Johan Georg Otto von Rosen (13 February 1843 – 3 March 1923) was a Swedish painter and greve (count). He specialized in history paintings and portraits, done in the Academic style.
Overview
Johan Georg Otto von Rosen (13 February 1843 – 3 March 1923) was a Swedish painter and greve (count). He specialized in history paintings and portraits, done in the Academic style.
Biography
He was born in Paris. When he was barely five, his family returned to Sweden as a result of the French Revolution of 1848.
His father was the Consul General, Adolf Eugène von Rosen (1797–1886) who worked for public and state authorities with Swedish railway construction.
From 1855 to 1861, he studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, he visited London to see the 1862 International Exhibition, where he was influenced by the paintings on Medieval and Renaissance subjects created by Hendrik Leys. He later remarked that when he left London he was "300 years older". The following year, he spent some time at Leys' studio in Antwerp.
Inspired by that experience, upon returning home he painted an historical scene of Sten Sture the Elder entering Stockholm. Despite its obvious debt to Leys, it was praised by King Oscar II and given a "Royal Medal". Shortly after, he set out on a tour of the Mediterranean; visiting Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Greece and returning through Hungary. In 1866 he visited Rome, then went to Antwerp, where he lived with Leys until his death in 1869. This was followed by studies with artist Karl von Piloty in Munich.
