Helena Sophia Isberg
Encyclopedia
Helena Sophia Isberg was a Swedish wood-cut artist.
Helena Isberg was born at Säby in Tranås
in Småland
. She moved with her parents and brother to Motala
in 1840. Her father was a cabinet maker. Isberg was tutored by her father to cabinet makery, lathing and carving, and was to become famous for her wood carving. In 1847, her work was exhibited in Stockholm, and made a success. She was asked to move to Stockholm, the professor Carl Gustaf Qvarnström (1810–1867) offered her a scholarhisp to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
, Queen Josephine
offered her an allowance of 200$, but she declined every offer. A contemporary writer wrote about her: She preferred to stay in the poor hut where she was born, and remained in the bosom of the poverty which had surrounded her cradle.
Her work was exhibited in London
(1862), Paris
(1865) and Vienna
(1875), and was internationally admired, but she was happy where she was, and lived with her brother in a cottage in Motala her entire life despite her success. On one occasion, King Charles XV of Sweden
, upon a visit in Motala, expressed a wish to see Isberg. She was sent for by message to her cottage, but Helena Isberg answered, that if the King wished to see her, then he would have to come to her. No meeting took place, but Charles also admired her and also purchased her work.
Helena Isberg was born at Säby in Tranås
Tranås
Tranås is a locality and the seat of Tranås Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 14,017 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:It is close to the lake Sommen in the north of Småland. Its main commercial center is located along the main street, Storgatan. The symbol of the town is the crane as...
in Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
. She moved with her parents and brother to Motala
Motala
Motala is a locality and the seat of Motala Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 29,798 inhabitants in 2005. It is the third largest city of Östergötland, following Linköping and Norrköping...
in 1840. Her father was a cabinet maker. Isberg was tutored by her father to cabinet makery, lathing and carving, and was to become famous for her wood carving. In 1847, her work was exhibited in Stockholm, and made a success. She was asked to move to Stockholm, the professor Carl Gustaf Qvarnström (1810–1867) offered her a scholarhisp to study at 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...
, Queen Josephine
Josephine of Leuchtenberg
Joséphine of Leuchtenberg was Queen consort of Sweden and Norway as the wife of King Oscar I...
offered her an allowance of 200$, but she declined every offer. A contemporary writer wrote about her: She preferred to stay in the poor hut where she was born, and remained in the bosom of the poverty which had surrounded her cradle.
Her work was exhibited in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1862), Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1865) and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(1875), and was internationally admired, but she was happy where she was, and lived with her brother in a cottage in Motala her entire life despite her success. On one occasion, King Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV & IV also Carl ; Swedish and Norwegian: Karl was King of Sweden and Norway from 1859 until his death....
, upon a visit in Motala, expressed a wish to see Isberg. She was sent for by message to her cottage, but Helena Isberg answered, that if the King wished to see her, then he would have to come to her. No meeting took place, but Charles also admired her and also purchased her work.