Kullervo Rides to War

Kullervo Rides to War
Kullervo Sets off for Battle; Kullervo Departs for the War
Finnish: Kullervon sotaanlähtö
Artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Year 1901
Medium Tempera
Dimensions 89 cm × 128 cm (35 in × 50 in)
Location Ateneum, Helsinki

Kullervo Rides to War (Finnish: Kullervon sotaanlähtö) is a painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela from the year 1901. He painted the subject in tempera painting (89 × 128 cm)[1] and as a mural (355 × 687 cm) which is located in the music hall of Vanha ylioppilastalo of Helsinki University.[2] The painting was donated to the Students' union by O. Donner.[3]

The theme for the painting is from the Kalevala, national epic of Finland. Kullervo sits on a white horse ready to ride to war, to take revenge on his uncle Untamo.[4] He is followed by a dog or a wolf.

Gallen-Kallela traveled to Siena, Italy, where he saw the frescoes by Simone Martini in the Palazzo Pubblico. Martini's Equestrian portrait gave Gallen-Kallela inspiration for the setting of Kullervo.

Simone Martini, 13th century, Equestrian portrait of Guidoriccio da Fogliano

References

  1. ↑ "Gallen-Kallela, Akseli Kullervon sotaanlähtö 1901". Finnish National Gallery. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Venues". Vanha Ylioppilastalo. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Invitation to opening ceremony 22.3.1901". Finna (in Finnish).
  4. ↑ Kalevala: Songs 31–36 - The Kullervo cycle.
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