Margareta Alströmer
Encyclopedia
Margareta Hedvig Alströmer, as married Cronstedt af Fullerö, (12 December 1763 - 19 February 1816), was a Swedish painter, singer and countess. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
.
, statesman and amateur musician Patrick Alströmer and Christina Maria Ollonberg, and the granddaughter of Jonas Alströmer
. She was raised in a very cultural environment. Her father had made their home a center of the cultural life in the city of Gothenburg
and was known as the founder of the theatre Comediehuset
(1779). She and her sisters Cristina and Anna, and her brother Jonas, often participated as singers, musicians and actors in concert
s and amateur theatre
in Gothenburg and Stockholm
.
Alströmer was described as a "skillful dilettante
in the art of painting" and was elected as a member of the Academy of Arts by a large majority in 1795. She was also a popular dilettante singer at private concerts and public charity concerts, and in the same year, she was elected to the Academy of Music, a first for her combined sex and status; previously, only women who were professional artists had been elected, such as Elisabeth Olin
in 1782, but in 1795, Alströmer was elected with Christina Fredenheim
(1762-1841) and Anna Brita Wendelius
(1741-1804), followed in 1801 by the siblings Sophia (1773-1858) and Emilie (1780-1863) Brandel, Ulrica Bouck and Marie Antoinette Petersén
(1771-1855), all dilettantes. In the Academy of Arts, Wendela Gustafva Sparre
(1772-1855), another noble dilettante artist, was elected in to the academy in 1797. In 1799, Alströmer participated in a concert in Stockholm playing the Clavichord
to the singing of Christoffer Christian Karsten
, Marianne Ehrenström
and Christina Fredenheim
.
In 1781, she married Major General
Count
Nils August Cronstedt af Fullerö. In 1788, her husband was sentenced to be shot for subordination, but was instead imprisoned in the fortress of Varberg
, from where he was released in 1792 by order of Duke Charles
.
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...
and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
.
Biography
Margareta Alströmer was born the child of the baronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
, statesman and amateur musician Patrick Alströmer and Christina Maria Ollonberg, and the granddaughter of Jonas Alströmer
Jonas Alströmer
Jonas Alströmer was a pioneer of agriculture and industry in Sweden.Born Jonas Toresson in the town of Alingsås in Västergötland, in 1707 he became a clerk for Stockholm merchant Alberg in London...
. She was raised in a very cultural environment. Her father had made their home a center of the cultural life in the city of Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
and was known as the founder of the theatre Comediehuset
Comediehuset
Comediehuset or Sillgateteatern was a Swedish theatre, the first real Public theatre in Gothenburg. It was located at the corner of Sillgatan, the Herring-street and Nedre Kvarnbergsgatan and active from 1779 to the 1830s...
(1779). She and her sisters Cristina and Anna, and her brother Jonas, often participated as singers, musicians and actors in concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s and amateur theatre
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
in Gothenburg and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Alströmer was described as a "skillful dilettante
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
in the art of painting" and was elected as a member of the Academy of Arts by a large majority in 1795. She was also a popular dilettante singer at private concerts and public charity concerts, and in the same year, she was elected to the Academy of Music, a first for her combined sex and status; previously, only women who were professional artists had been elected, such as Elisabeth Olin
Elisabeth Olin
Elisabeth Olin was a Swedish opera singer and a music composer. She is referred to as the first Swedish Opera prima donna. She was a court-singer . She was the first female member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music...
in 1782, but in 1795, Alströmer was elected with Christina Fredenheim
Christina Fredenheim
Christina Elisabet Fredenheim was a Swedish artist, singer and noble. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music....
(1762-1841) and Anna Brita Wendelius
Anna Brita Wendelius
Anna Brita Wendelius, , was a Swedish artist and singer. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.Anna Brita Wendelius, who was married to a wealthy merchant, was known as a non professional musician and singer...
(1741-1804), followed in 1801 by the siblings Sophia (1773-1858) and Emilie (1780-1863) Brandel, Ulrica Bouck and Marie Antoinette Petersén
Marie Antoinette Petersén
Marie Antoinette Petersén, , was a Swedish artist and singer. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.Marie Antoinette Petersén, who was married to a wealthy merchant, was known as a non professional musician and singer. In 1801, she was elected as a member in to the Swedish Royal...
(1771-1855), all dilettantes. In the Academy of Arts, Wendela Gustafva Sparre
Wendela Gustafva Sparre
Wendela Gustafva Sparre , was a Swedish textile artist. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.Born to the noble Gabriel Sparre, captain of the royal regiment of Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden. Wendela Gustafva Sparre was known and acknowledged as a non-professional artist in...
(1772-1855), another noble dilettante artist, was elected in to the academy in 1797. In 1799, Alströmer participated in a concert in Stockholm playing the Clavichord
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
to the singing of Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten was a Swedish opera singer, sometimes called the greatest male opera singer in Swedish history...
, Marianne Ehrenström
Marianne Ehrenström
Marianne Ehrenström, née Pollet , was a Swedish writer, singer, painter, pianist, culture personality, memorialist, principal and lady-in-waiting...
and Christina Fredenheim
Christina Fredenheim
Christina Elisabet Fredenheim was a Swedish artist, singer and noble. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music....
.
In 1781, she married Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Nils August Cronstedt af Fullerö. In 1788, her husband was sentenced to be shot for subordination, but was instead imprisoned in the fortress of Varberg
Varberg
Varberg is a locality and the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden with 26,041 inhabitants in 2005.Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their 'typical west coast' sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from wide sandy beaches to rocky terrain that continues north into...
, from where he was released in 1792 by order of Duke Charles
Charles XIII of Sweden
Charles XIII & II also Carl, , was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway from 1814 until his death...
.
External links
- Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor
- The Alströmer Collection manuscripts
- Countess Alstromer Georgian Swedish Landscape
See also
- Ulrika PaschUlrika PaschUlrika Fredrica Pasch , also known as Ulla Pasch, was a Swedish painter and miniaturist. She was one of few female artists known in Scandinavia before the 19th century...
- Christina Charlotta CederströmChristina Charlotta CederströmChristina Charlotta Cederström was a Swedish Dilettante artist, salon hostess, and baroness. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and the French Académie des Beaux-Arts....