Overshadowed by the high-profile splendors of Italy and France, and studied and chronicled almost entirely in Swedish, Sweden s majestic palaces, stately manor houses, and tapestry-like gardens have seemed as remote as the Nordic country itself. On the pages of Classical Swedish Architecture and Interiors 1650 1840, meet such pathbreakers as Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and Carl Harleman and the ambitious, discerning monarchs and aristocrats who commissioned their work. Learn how Sweden s architects and designers mined antique and contemporary southern Europe for styles, techniques, and even artisans; how such marvels as the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Drottningholm, and King Gustav III s beloved Haga took shape and acquired their uniquely Swedish stamp. Step into the rich interiors where Sweden s kings and their consorts received state visitors, stored and displayed treasures, wrote letters and studied science, and laid their heads to sleep. The path of visitors to Sweden scholars and laymen, travelers and armchair explorers alike will be forever changed and expanded by this book. Stops at the more familiar sites will be informed with knowledge of the who, when, why, and how of each antechamber and pavilion, while the lucid text and abundance of brilliant photographs, complementing such historical documents as engravings and architectural renderings, will open roads to rural corners and coastal retreats where Swedish royals, nobles, and privileged commoners basked in the calm of their country mansions and warmed themselves before their handsome Swedish tile stoves."

Accompanying a major retrospective of Anders Zorn's work, this is the first volume in English to explore the Swedish Impressionist's entire career in depth. Anders Zorn (1860-1920) is one of Sweden's most accomplished and beloved artists. Renowned for his light, expressive watercolors, he attained mastery of the genre at an early age and later applied his techniques to oil painting. Zorn is often compared with the artists John Singer Sargent and Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, contemporaries who also were known for their portraits of high-society figures. Taking up residence in London and then in Paris, Zorn established himself as an international portrait painter, depicting fashionable clients in a style both elegant and relaxed. He became a favorite among wealthy American collectors, bankers, and industrialists who sat for him, including art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner and three U.S. presidents. Although perhaps best known for his portraits, Zorn brought equal skill to painting genre scenes and views of nature. This handsome volume provides a thorough introduction to the artist and his works, from portraiture to landscapes and his famous nudes. Four illustrated essays are accompanied by a chronology, selected bibliography, an exhibition checklist, and an index.