Eva Bonnier
Encyclopedia
Eva Fredrika Bonnier was a Swedish painter and philanthropist.
, Eva Bonnier studied painting with August Malmström
and became a student in the women's section of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
in Stockholm in 1878. Together with her friend and co-student Hanna Hirsch, she traveled to Paris in 1883, staying there until 1889. Her painting "Music" (1889) was awarded a mention honorable at the Paris Salon
. After her return to Sweden in 1889, she was active as a painter until about 1900, mostly of portraits, such as those of Lisen Bonnier (her sister-in-law) as convalescent, industrialist Hjalmar Lundbohm
, politician Moritz Rubenson, educator Carl Jonas Meijerberg and poet and scholar Oscar Levertin
. She is represented with several paintings in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
After about 1900 Bonnier fell silent as an artist and devoted herself to her philanthropic work, enabled through her inherited wealth. She established a foundation for the beautification of Stockholm, which in its first years financed paintings and sculptures for public places and institutions, such as the Royal Library, Stockholm University
, and several Stockholm schools. The foundation remains active.
Eva Bonnier suffered from frequent depressions and took her own life in 1909.
Biography
Born in Stockholm as a daughter of publisher Albert Bonnier and a member of a leading family of publishersBonnier family
The Bonnier family is a wealthy Swedish family of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, active in the publishing business since the late-18th century. The family controls the Swedish company Bonnier AB, with an annual revenue in 2008 of US$ 4.13 billion ....
, Eva Bonnier studied painting with August Malmström
August Malmström
Johan August Malmström was a Swedish painter and professor at the Swedish Academy of Arts from 1867 to 1894 and the manager of the same institution from 1887 to 1893. Attracted by gothicismus he collected motives from Norse mythology. He is also appreciated for his country motives with children...
and became a student in the women's section of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
The Royal Swedish Academy of Arts or Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna, founded in 1773 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
in Stockholm in 1878. Together with her friend and co-student Hanna Hirsch, she traveled to Paris in 1883, staying there until 1889. Her painting "Music" (1889) was awarded a mention honorable at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
. After her return to Sweden in 1889, she was active as a painter until about 1900, mostly of portraits, such as those of Lisen Bonnier (her sister-in-law) as convalescent, industrialist Hjalmar Lundbohm
Hjalmar Lundbohm
Johan Olof Hjalmar Lundbohm was a Swedish geologist and chemist and the first managing director of LKAB in Kiruna. He is almost regarded as the founder of the city....
, politician Moritz Rubenson, educator Carl Jonas Meijerberg and poet and scholar Oscar Levertin
Oscar Levertin
Oscar Ivar Levertin was a Swedish poet, critic and literary historian. Levertin was a dominant voice of the Swedish cultural scene from 1897, when he started writing influential high-profile essays and reviews in the daily paper Svenska Dagbladet...
. She is represented with several paintings in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
After about 1900 Bonnier fell silent as an artist and devoted herself to her philanthropic work, enabled through her inherited wealth. She established a foundation for the beautification of Stockholm, which in its first years financed paintings and sculptures for public places and institutions, such as the Royal Library, Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
, and several Stockholm schools. The foundation remains active.
Eva Bonnier suffered from frequent depressions and took her own life in 1909.