Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Alexander Roslin

EARLY DAYS:

Alexander Roslin was a Swedish painter, who is widely considered an important figure in the history of European art. He was born on July 4, 1718 in Malmö, Sweden, and was the son of a tailor. In 1745, Roslin began his artistic training at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. His teachers included David von Krafft, who instructed him in classicism, and Johan Pasch, who taught him the Rococo style.

In 1751, Roslin traveled to Paris, where he studied under the influential French painter and art theorist, Francois Boucher. Under Boucher's tutelage, Roslin developed a distinctively French style of painting, which he used to great effect in his many portraits of aristocrats and royalty.

In 1755, Roslin returned to Sweden, where he was soon commissioned to paint a portrait of Princess Lovisa Ulrika of Prussia. This painting, which was later to become his most famous work, was the first of many royal portraits he was to paint over the course of his career.

Roslin's success in Sweden soon spread to other parts of Europe, and he was commissioned to paint several royal families, including Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia, and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. His works were celebrated by the European art establishment, and by the end of his career, he was widely regarded as one of the most important portrait painters of his day.

Roslin's success was mainly due to his ability to capture both the physical features and the personality of his subjects. His portraits were often considered to be the most accurate and lifelike of his time, and he was particularly noted for his skill in capturing the emotional mood of his sitters.

In addition to royal portraits, Roslin also painted a variety of religious and mythological scenes, as well as landscapes and still lives. He was also a skilled draughtsman, and his drawings were highly sought after by collectors.

Roslin died in Stockholm on March 13, 1793, at the age of 74. His legacy lives on in the many works of art that remain from his lifetime, and his influence can be seen in the works of many of the great European painters of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Personal Details: Name Alexander Roslin Place of birth Malmo, Sweden Date of Birth July 15, 1718 Date of Death July 5, 1793 in Paris Nationality Swedish Field portrait painter Work Location Bayreuth, Paris, St Petersburg Work Period From 1740's to 1791

CAREER:

Alexander Roslin was a Swedish portrait painter, who was born in 1718 and died in 1793. He was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 18th century, known for his distinctive style of Rococo painting.

Roslin also studied under another influential painter, David von Krafft, and gained a great deal of experience in the field of portrait painting.

In 1745, Roslin journeyed to Paris to further his studies, where he was exposed to the works of the most renowned painters of the day, such as Francois Boucher and Jean-Baptiste Greuze. His style began to reflect the influence of these painters, and he became known for his delicate, soft-focused portraits of aristocrats, clergymen, and other wealthy patrons.

Roslin achieved a great deal of success in his lifetime, being appointed court painter to King Gustav III of Sweden in 1777. He also painted a portrait of Marie Antoinette, the future queen of France. Roslin's style was widely admired, and he was commissioned by many of the leading figures and aristocrats of the day.

Roslin was also known for his landscapes, which were often painted in the French Rococo style. He also painted many religious scenes, such as the Last Supper, which was completed in 1780. His landscapes often depicted rural scenes, such as fields and forests, and were often composed in a bright and cheerful palette.

In 1785, Roslin was appointed a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, and later became its president in 1788. He also served as professor of painting at the Academy from 1786 until his death in 1793.

Alexander Roslin was one of the most renowned portrait painters of the 18th century, and his work continues to be admired and celebrated today. His distinctive style of Rococo painting, combined with his skillful use of light and color, have made him one of the most celebrated painters of the era. His influence can be seen in the works of many other great painters, such as Jean-Baptiste Greuze, Francois Boucher, and Thomas Gainsborough.