Jakob Björck

Jakob Björck, (1727 or 28 -20/2 1793 in Stockholm), was a Swedish portrait painter and copyist.

Biography

Björck is reported to have been a pupil of Johan Henrik Scheffel [2], but is not listed as such in the Path Roth's biography. From 1750 to 1774 he worked in pastel painter Gustav Lundberg's studio and then on their own. Married in 1774 by Cicilia Branch born in 1723 or 24, died 16/7 1811 in Stockholm.

In Lundberg's studio 1750-1774 Copies of the oil after Lundberg's pastels are usually routinely attributed Björck, although several other assistants were busy in the studio at the same time; Per Cogell (later city painters in Lyon), Adolf Hall, Jonas Forsslund and a pastel painter named Pettersson. Lundberg also had at times as many orders that he laid out copy orders of other artists - Johan Henrik Scheffel and Fredrik Brander. Moreover, it seems Ulrika Pasch, Olof Arenius and hovminiatyristen John George Henrichsen and Niklas Lafrensen Elder had access to Lundberg's original.

"Björck copies in oil was not infrequently Lundbergs elegance and shimmer surprisingly close," writes Oscar Levertinsgatan in their study. It was well known at that time that the pastel paintings are sensitive to light, moisture and mechanical damage. The 10/1 1760 writes Carl Gustaf Tessin in Åkerö diary: "Mr. Lundberg has Hofintendenten in those days liked to have trouble with my portrait. He and I are born the same year, although not brand neither on its own or eyes. Injury and eternal injury, these portraits are in pastel. " The portraits of Tessin referring to is his own councilors in suit and wife in the yellow dress and black spetsmantilj. Both were shown at the exhibition "The sun and the North Star" at the National Museum 1993-94, however, outside the catalog. They were then heavily faded.

It was therefore common to order copies of the oil from the outset. An example of this is precisely Tessin councilor portrait from 1760, for which Tessin copied Gustaf Lundberg receipt in Åkerö-diary:

"Un portrait original one pastel de Son Excellence Monseignur le Comte de Tessin avec cadre et glace Dlr cuivre 1300

Un ditto the Madame La Comtesse de Tessin 1300

Deux copies one huile you Portrait de Son Excellence à 200 d 400

Deux cadres pour les dite 300 copies

A framed and glazed pastel original cost ie 1300 daler copper coins, equivalent to around SEK 40 000 2009th Framed copies in oil cost 350 crowns copper coins each, representing approximately 11 000 SEK 2009. [6] This may well have been friendly prices because Tessin been Lundberg's patron since the 1720s. By Tessin portraits are ten copies recorded in Swedish Portrait Archive. All have been attributed to Jakob Björck. The same applies to four copies of his wife's portrait, which apparently ordered on another occasion.

Björck copied also in pastel, but some works that can be safely attributed to him is not known. When he finished his service with Lundberg thanked him with a small cabinet with pastels and a collection of copper in recognition of "24 years of faithful service ".

On its own after 1774 Björck had since 1774 an own production, where he mainly copied the works of others, such as one of Jean-Baptiste Oudrys door lintels in the Royal Palace, Hunting dog with two grouse, which he signed Iacob Björck px on stent . He was able to paint King Gustav III and the Life Guards uniform with revolutionaries armband and partly in Swedish costume, both in the magnificent royal frames. In general, however, assumes that he copied from the now lost or destroyed works by Lundberg. Björck had the title HofCopist, probably Lundberg's instigation in order to avoid problems with painting the office.

His own style is rough compared to Lundberg's easy elegance. This is evident from the portraits of King Gustav III and Adolf Ludvig Stierneld below in the gallery. In time, his production purely handcrafted and copies after the many stereotypical portraits of Lundberg's last days are consistently dry and lifeless. The portraits of Gustavus Gyllenborg, his wife Petronella Hultman and the copy of Lundberg's self-portraits in the below gallery can be seen as an example this. Björck copies of Lundberg's portraits during the 2000s the first decade sold for anything from 20,000 to 180,000 SEK depending not least on the frame. Gold plated and richly carved frames are often more appreciated than their content. Child and damporträtt generally valued higher than men's portraits.

Gallery

Contents [hide] 1 In Lundberg's studio 1750-1774 2 On your own for 1774 3 Gallery 4 Sources 5 Notes