sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anders Zorn, Life Guards (Sweden)

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB NEWSLETTER Documenting California’s Traditional Arts Heritage Since 1909

Anders Leonard Zorn (1860–1920): Stealing Secrets and Beauty

by Elaine Adams

orn as the illegitimate son ’s annual growing season in the his son. In his memoirs, Zorn bluntly of a Bavarian beer maker and a central valley is limited to roughly 150 wrote, “It was of course considered the Swedish farm girl, never having days—forcing 19th-century farming deepest disgrace in those days to have Bmet his father, and raised as families to find work elsewhere during a child out of wedlock, and one had a peasant boy on his grandparents’ off-season. Such was the case for Grudd every reason to fear the worst for such farm, Anders Leonard Zorn managed Anna Andersdotter (1838–1920) who an unfortunate.... I had no father. I was to reach international prominence, worked as a bottle washer at the recently the fruit of an accident and a German financial success, and philanthropic opened Von Düben’s brewery in the brewer living in Finland was to blame heights. university town of Uppsala. Later, in for my life’s origin.” However, the 1890 Zorn painted The Little Brewery in surname of Zorn was legally given to Childhood honour of his mother. the boy as well as a small inheritance of Zorn was born in a cowshed on In the spring of 1859, Grudd Anna met 3,000 kronor, which he received in 1874. February 18, 1860 in the village of a Bavarian brewer from Reichenberg When the inheritance ran out four years Utmeland, outside the 13th-century named Johann Leonhard Zorn later, German brewers in parish town of Mora located in Sweden’s (1831–1872), and approximately nine got together and raised funds to help central province of (Swedish for months later, gave birth to their son, the boy continue his schooling. In 1874 “The Valleys”). Until the age of twelve Anders. Leonhard Zorn died twelve Grudd Anna married a local man from Anders Zorn was chiefly raised by his years later in Helsinki, never having met Mora, Skeri Anders Andersson. They maternal grandparents on the family’s small farmstead, Gruddgärden, in Yvraden in Mora. The topographical environment that encompassed Zorn’s upbringing included Europe’s largest meteor crater known as the Siljan Ring, as well as Lakes Siljan and Orsajon, the foothills of the Scandinavian mountain range, and numerous waterways, lake islands, and woodlands verdant with spruce, pine, aspen, alder, maple, and birch trees. These were the surroundings and simple folk life that would eventually materialize in Zorn’s art. Among the Nordic countries, Sweden’s climate is the warmest with summer temperatures of approximately 65 degrees. However, the summers also produce the most rainfall and, from May to mid-July the skies are filled with twenty-four hours of daylight, a natural phenomenon in the Arctic Circle Midnight, 1891 known as the “Midnight Sun.” With Oil on canvas 27.20 3 40.60 these unusual agricultural conditions, Collection of Zornsamlingarna, Mora, Sweden california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 2 had two daughters, Skeri In Mourning (collection Karin (1874–1906) and Skeri of the National Museum, Mejt (1881–1981). Stockholm), at the Academy’s Because the name, Anders, student exhibition. The was considered a common haunting portrait depicting a peasant’s name, and to help bereaved young girl with her give the boy more social demure face under a black advantages, he was called veil garnered Zorn great “Leonard” until 1884 when attention, including glowing he decided to go back to reviews from the influential his birth name. Anders art critic Carl Rupert affectionately called his Nyblom (1831–1907), who mother “Mona” (meaning subsequently commissioned “mother” in the Moramål Zorn to paint a portrait of dialect). He began his his son. In addition, King schooling at age ten at Oscar II of Sweden tried Morastrand, and then, two to purchase In Mourning, years later, he continued however, unsuccessfully. Later, studying at a secondary Zorn painted a similar work grammar school 150 miles for the King. The attention away in Enköping for three contributed immensely to years. Zorn’s immediate success. Zorn’s school grades Zorn’s personality were satisfactory; but, he was big, bold and often excelled in his artistic ability brash—characteristics that and particularly enjoyed increasingly manifested carving wooden horses, the into his by way traditional folk art of Dalarna of his lively, sweeping, and known as “Dalecarlian deliberate broad brushstrokes. horses” or “Dala horses.” The Self-Portrait with Model, 1896 He was developing a 0 3 0 Dala horse has its roots as a Oil on canvas 46.06 37 confident style, and with popular children’s toy in the Collection of National Museum, Stockholm his recent triumph, Zorn 1600s and is now a symbol was eager to start his career. of Sweden. It is typically In January of 1881, after depicted as a simple crude figure of a held a memorial exhibition of Swedish a disagreement with the Academy’s horse painted in “Falun red,” a bright red watercolourist Egron Lundgren director regarding the school’s strict pigment derived from the old copper (1815–1875). Zorn visited the exhibition curriculum, Zorn decided to quit. His mine in nearby Falun (Dalarna’s capital). and was inspired by Lundgren’s work— popularity among fellow students Undoubtedly, making Dala horses kept including the itinerant lifestyle he had inspired others to follow suit. Anders amused as a boy. He wrote in led. Zorn spent the summer of 1876 During this time Zorn joined the his memoirs, “…in the evening I would watercolour scenes of country Svea Livgardes (Swedish Life Guards), a borrow grandfather’s knife to carve a life in Mora. of the that was two-legged horse in bark.... Sometimes I Egron Lundgren had spent eight years, one of the world’s oldest continuously borrowed his carpenter’s pencil to draw from 1841 to 1849, painting watercolours serving military units. The select horses or figures on the back of a letter in Italy, followed by a trip to Spain battalion force was established in 1521 from my mother, the only paper we ever where from 1849 to 1852 he immersed with the main objective of protecting had.” himself in the Spanish culture—painting the royal family as well as the palace and images of brave bullfighters, lovely capitol in Stockholm. His national pride The Academy senoritas, and sultry flamenco dancers. and deep gratitude to his native Sweden Besides horses, Zorn also carved human Lundgren returned to England, where would continue developing on many figures and had aspirations of becoming he received a commission from Queen levels. a sculptor. In September of 1875, at the Victoria to paint ceremonial pictures, age of fifteen, he entered the Royal and later was sent to accompany Sir Building a Future of Fine Arts in Colin Campbell’s relief expedition to Zorn’s distinctive style and virtuosity Stockholm where he chose to study Oudh, India where he documented the spread throughout Stockholm, and drawing, sculpting, and painting in the Mutiny of 1857, resulting in a series of with his outgoing personality, he was uncommon medium of watercolour. 500 sketches. a novelty and soon began charming Zorn’s interest in the medium was In the spring of 1880 at the age of affluent families as well as receiving heightened when in 1876 the Academy twenty Zorn showed his watercolour, portrait commissions from them. In the california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 3

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB NEWSLETTER Fall 2013

Contents Cover Anders Leonard Zorn (1860–1920): Stealing Secrets and Beauty by Elaine Adams

10 David A. Leffel: Teaching Painters to Paint by Molly Siple In Mourning, 1880 Egron Lundgren (1815–1875) Watercolour 16.50 3 12.20 Girl with Blue Wearing Scarves 13 Message from the President Collection of National Museum, Watercolour 10.80 3 90 by Peter Adams Stockholm Private Collection 15 Membership Programs and Events spring of 1881 Zorn was hired to paint Herman, eventually became the First 16 Call for Entries a portrait of a boy named Nils Geber. Vice-Speaker of the Second Chamber of When he met the boy’s aunt, Emma the Swedish Parliament (The ); 17 Collectors’ Circle Corner Lamm (1860–1942), who was babysitting and the family’s friends and business Nils, Zorn fell instantly in love. Emma associates were among Sweden’s top 17 Signature Artists Report Lamm was from an upper-middle class elite. Through Emma, Zorn had access to 18 Chapter Events Jewish family from Stockholm where prospective patrons. her father, Martin Oscar Lamm (1824– Although the Lamms appreciated 18 News Briefs 1878) ran the S.L. Lamm & Son Textile the fine arts, they did not want Emma . Furthermore, her sister, marrying a poor artist. Zorn would 21 Donations Anna, was married to the successful have to earn a respectable income and 22 Museum/Gallery publisher Hugo Geber; her brother, reputation before the family would Exhibitions and Lectures 29 Book Reviews 29 Membership News 31 New Members

Advertisers

21 The Artists Guild 16 Fine Art Connoisseur 16 Heritage Auctions 30 Plein Air Convention

12 Vasari Classic Artists’ Oil Colors

The Little Brewery, 1890 Oil on canvas 18.700 3 30.710 Collection of National Museum, Stockholm california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 4 accept him. On June 2, 1881 the couple summerhouse. Surrounded by lakes and watercolours. In the fall, he and his became secretly engaged. It took an the Baltic Sea, he began focusing on the friend, Swedish artist Ernst Abraham additional four years until Zorn earned appearance of water and its movement— Josephson (1851–1906), travelled enough money to be able to marry how its undulating surface reflected and together to Spain, initially staying in Emma. refracted light. Zorn expressed, “What Madrid. An interesting side note is that seems now to have particularly attracted Josephson, who contracted syphilis Travelling and Painting me was the play of the water and the early in life, subsequently developed The coming four years were spent reflections, to really get the movement, schizophrenia and was committed to a mostly in England and Spain, but put the ripples and everything in mental asylum in 1888 believing he was during the summers Zorn was at his perspective and scientifically explain it God incarnate. Josephson continued old homestead in Mora as well as in all with meticulous sharpness.” painting until his death. His later work, Stockholm’s archipelago resort, Dalarö, In August of 1881 Zorn moved to which can be described as tormented, where the Lamm family rented a London where he continued painting influenced German Expressionist, Emil Nolde (1867–1956), and several of today’s Scandinavian figurative painters, including Odd Nerdrum (1944– ). In a letter Zorn wrote to his future brother-in-law, Hugo Geber, he described his impression of Seville, “It is hot here, sunny, with nice girls and picturesque beggars, a paradise for painters.” Zorn spent six months painting in Spain, mostly in Seville and Cádiz where he particularly developed his painting skills. While in Cádiz he exhibited three of his Spanish watercolours, which garnered him high accolades including from the newspaper El Comercio. Soon he began receiving commissions from the Spanish aristocracy. In March of 1882—and certainly with Lundgren’s journeys in mind—Zorn travelled to Italy for the spring, then, to where he met with Emma and her mother, and back to London by fall where he resided for three years until the spring of 1885. His goal was to glean skills from examples of 19th-century British watercolour paintings and to develop his own reputation as a sought- after artist. To impress prospective clients, Zorn rented an expensive studio in the posh district of Mayfair at 42 Brook Street, but soon began running out of money and was forced to borrow funds and live on credit. His fortunes began to turn for the better, however, when he received a portrait commission from the Swedish diplomat, Minister Henrik Akerman. Immediately afterwards, he began receiving commission requests from members of the English upper class. In 1884 Zorn returned to Spain with the prospect of painting a portrait In Alhambra Park, 1887 of the King of Spain, which did not Watercolour 19.860 3 18.860 materialize, but resulted in gaining Collection of Zornmuseet, Mora california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 5

Zorn and his Wife, 1890 in Venice, 1894 Etching 12.520 3 8.390 Oil on canvas 35.430 3 25.790 Collection of Isabella Stewart Garner Museum, Boston Collection of Isabella Stewart Garner Museum, Boston a commission to paint the nearly as parallel lines. With Zorn’s ability to of only twenty-five years of age. In significant Duchess of Alba. Zorn was carve—stemming from his childhood addition, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts now in pursued demand among the interest in making wooden — awarded him with the Egron Lundgren elite, and it was no longer necessary for and his use of the etching needle, he Medallion for Watercolour. him to put on any false pretence over became a highly formidable etcher. In Soon after the Zorns reached his lack of upbringing. Emma convinced all, he produced 290 etchings, some that Constantinople Anders became seriously her fiancé to drop the loftier name of were based on his paintings while others ill with typhoid fever. In his delirium, “Leonard” and to revert back to his were directly inspired works. he reverted back to speaking in the common Christian name of “Anders.” Mora dialect, which persuaded Emma His reputation as an eminent artist was Marriage to learn the local vernacular, and which such that he felt secure enough to begin On October 16, 1885, with financial would later prove to be beneficial. After signing his name simply as “Zorn.” security on the rise, Anders Zorn and spending three months convalescing, Emma Lamm were married in a civil Zorn was well enough to travel again. Learning to Etch ceremony. The newlyweds travelled The first years of their marriage were While in London Zorn became through Eastern Europe on their way highly productive for Zorn’s painting. acquainted with the Swedish etcher Axel to Constantinople where they would Emma played an active role in managing Herman Häig (1835–1921) from whom ultimately spend their honeymoon. In her husband’s career, including details he learned techniques of carving copper Romania, Zorn received notice that he regarding keeping track of patrons plates to make prints. Zorn was a great was awarded the Royal Order of Vasa and publishers, organizing exhibitions, admirer of and was inspired for his service to art in Sweden—an shipping, insurance, and occasionally by his etchings and use of directional impressive recognition for an artist serving as the artist’s model. She also california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 6

provided him with critical analysis of his Swedish women bathing in Stockholm’s work as well as the encouragement he archipelago. Many of his models were frequently needed. The following eleven supplied through advertisements he years were mostly spent abroad, first in placed in local newspapers. Zorn England, later in Paris, but they always purchased a sailboat, which he named returned to Sweden during the summers. “Mejt” (after his half-sister), and The Zorns travelled with English used it as his open-air studio and painter Alice Miller in 1887 to spend the for transporting his models to fall/winter season in England’s southwest different locations. These paintings coast’s fishing village of St. Ives in can be viewed as natural and graceful Cornwall. The setting was picturesque in their gestures and surroundings; and attracted a host of international however, many can also be regarded as painters. This was an artistic turning voyeuristic and overtly sensual—and point in Zorn’s work, as he became they certainly managed to raise a few inspired by his fellow artists and began local eyebrows. One such wary observer to paint in oils. In fact, it was American was a family friend, artist Robert artist Edward Simmons (1852–1931) that Thegerström (1857–1919), who alluded is credited for showing Zorn how to set to Zorn’s scandalous behaviour by his palette, which was limited to black, commenting that Zorn “sails out twice a white, and ochre. (Later, Zorn would add day with his nude Miss from the inn.” Une Première, 1888 red to become the basis of his palette.) Zorn’s gouache, Une Première, Gouache 29.90 3 220 Emma informed her husband that she was exhibited at the Exposition Collection of National Museum, Stockholm preferred his watercolour paintings, Universelle held in 1889 in Paris where Although this painting won a Gold Medal partly because they had a track history of it was awarded the Gold Medal. The at the Exposition Universelle of 1889, Zorn selling, and partly because she didn’t like recognition helped develop his stature remained dissatisfied with the work and washing his oil brushes. as a plein air painter. The subject of later, possibly in 1894, tried to improve it. In transitioning from watercolours to nudes in nature was not new; however, Ultimately he gave up and cut the painting oils, Zorn focused on softening his hard the way that Zorn portrayed them was into pieces. A fellow artist, Christian edges to create the effect of atmosphere different. They were not seen as clichéd Eriksson, gathered the fragments, repaired and light. His Fisherman in St. Ives was mythological nymphs posed in the the painting, and donated it to the National the second oil painting he had ever woods, but rather, as healthy, ordinary Museum in the mid–1910s. done. He decided to exhibit it in the 1888 Nordic women that were simply part of Paris Salon and it was purchased by the nature. French state, which encouraged him to Commenting about his own work, paint more oils. Zorn boasted, “I never spent much time The Zorns settled in Paris, thinking about others’ art. I felt that if eventually at 71 Boulevard de Clichy I wanted to become something, then in Montmartre, where they lived for I had to go after nature with all my the following eight years. They became interest and energy, seek what I loved friends with local artists, Pierre-August about it, and desire to steal its secret and Renoir (1841–1919), Edgar Degas (1834– beauty. I was entitled to become as great 1917), and Albert Besnard (1849–1934). as anyone else, and in that branch of Zorn’s work gained him prominence art so commanded by me, watercolour among the Parisian art world, including painting, I considered myself to have at the Paris World Fair of 1889 where already surpassed all predecessors and at just twenty-nine years of age, he was contemporaries.” (Published in Société des awarded the French Legion of Honour. Peintres-Graveurs: , 1889–1897; Also that year, he was asked to paint his transcribed by Lindsay Leard, Columbia self-portrait for the portrait collection at University, 1992.) the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Zorn in America Nudes in Nature Although his plein air paintings were Zorn’s love for Sweden’s landscape garnering him local attention, it was and fascination with interpreting light primarily his skill as a portrait painter Summer Evening, 1894 and movement on water, as well as that gained Zorn international acclaim. Oil on canvas 31.50 3 21.650 his outwardly robust appreciation for His keen ability to depict the natural Collection of Zornmuseet, Mora the female form, evolved into a series essence of his sitters was especially of plein air paintings depicting nude apparent in the relaxed portraits of california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 7 prominent cultural personalities. He In his memoirs Zorn wrote about his only rules of conduct that were insisted on painting his sitters in their impression of America: so severely impressed on me by own surroundings and not in a staged my grandfather from my earliest “ I get on well in America and studio environment. From peasant stock, childhood were not so tricky; with Americans. Their frank, however, with aristocratic leanings, his faithfulness, being true to one’s straightforward manner suits my work was simultaneously informal and word, honesty, and punctuality, nature. I’ve never really been able refined. Emma’s cousin Carl Robert virtues I discovered were to stand our urban Europeans’ Lamm described Zorn as “a hybrid unnecessary in the cities of Europe. ceremonious style and artificial between a gentleman and a farmer.” …Why was I more than other customs. When I first came out In 1893 the Columbian World Fair foreigners during [my first visit of Dalarna, I quickly learned that was being held in Chicago and Zorn to America] closest to the elite of everything I knew and valued was was elected the Commissioner of the America and introduced in all the considered nothing, and that one Swedish Art Exhibition. He travelled to clubs? Everywhere I go, I ascribe should never tell the truth about the and stayed for nearly this to my grandfather, the splendid things in polite society. . . . But the a year. This would be the first of seven trips to the U.S., making subsequent visits in 1896–1897, and 1898–1899, 1900– 1901, 1903–1904, 1907, and 1911. It was at the World Fair that Zorn met his future great patron Isabella Stewart Gardner. The story goes that when the eccentric art collector was at the fair she was interested in purchasing Zorn’s Omnibus, an oil painting depicting an interior scene of a Parisian bus. While admiring the work, she asked, “Who is Zorn?” Zorn was standing right there and introduced himself, to which she remarked, “Oh, my! I have the feeling we’ll either be enemies quite soon or very, very good friends forever.” The following year the Zorns travelled to Venice as guests of the Gardners and stayed at their Palazzo Barbaro. At the palazzo Zorn painted his famous portrait of Isabella with her arms stretched out as she enters exuberantly into the salon after watching fireworks over the Grand Canal. The Zorns and Gardners became life-long friends, and Isabella opened many doors for the artist. Zorn enjoyed the American lifestyle and felt at home in the U.S. where he was treated as an important celebrity. A great highlight of this time was in receiving commissions to paint portraits of three American presidents: and his wife (1899, National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC), William Taft, (1911, the White House), and an etching of in 1905. The tremendous recognition he received for painting presidential portraits resulted in Zorn receiving more than 100 American commissions, the majority of which are Midsummer Dance, 1897 still privately owned. Oil on canvas 55.120 3 38.580 Collection of National Museum, Stockholm california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 8

old Mora peasant who raised me of Zorn’s home and a museum filled and played the traditional spilåpipa, until I was twelve. …Over there with his art and personal collections, a flute instrument played among the [in America], when they say ‘He’s but there are two other museums that pastoral farmers. To protect Sweden’s all-right,’ all doors open to the also are part of the Zorn Collections. rural culture from vanishing under the foreigner, which Europeans cannot Gammelgården (“Old Farm”) is an open- eventual pressures of modernization, understand. Openness, honesty, air museum in the southern part of in 1906 Zorn created a folk music straightforwardness, punctuality, Mora, and Gopsmor, Zorn’s wilderness competition expressly for the fiddle, goat these things are included in the studio built twelve miles away. Zorn’s horn and cow horn. The competition testimonial ‘He’s all-right.’ ” interest in preserving local craftsmanship eventually began a revival for folk combined with his boyhood pleasure of music and thereby protected it from Zorn was a “self-made” man—a quality woodworking resulted in his dedication anonymity. Today, the Zorn Badge is respected by Americans. In February of to protecting historic Viking-style timber among the most prestigious awards a 1904 Zorn was invited to a reception at construction. Beginning in 1904 the folk musician can win. The White House where he had the Zorns started acquiring timber buildings The Zorns’ altruistic generosity opportunity to closely study President dating from the 13th to 18th centuries, extended to the Swedish Academy Theodore Roosevelt for preparation of including a 1237 cooking house, to which they donated a house in his etching of the President. In March known to be Sweden’s oldest preserved Stockholm’s old town that contained Zorn made a trip westwards over the secular timber structure. In total, the world’s oldest restaurant, Den Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. Gammelgården consists of more than Gyldene Freden (“The Golden Peace”). While in San Francisco he wrote a letter forty buildings. Also in 1904 Zorn began Had it not been for the Zorns’ cultural to Emma describing his trip out west as constructing Gopsmor, where he could preservation efforts, the restaurant “nothing has made such an impression paint in peace—and perhaps take refuge would have been closed in 1919. Today, on me, grandiose and charming.” from Emma who was not happy with “Freden,” as it is commonly referred to Zorn also made his way to Pasadena, the multitude of nude women parading by locals, continues as a gathering place California where he painted a portrait of about their home. for Sweden’s top artists and writers. the inventor, industrialist, and plumbing Moreover, the house hosts a weekly mogul, Richard T. Crane and his wife Preserving Sweden’s Heritage dinner every Thursday since 1901 for Emily. As industrialization was threatening members of the Swedish Academy who old-world ways, protecting Swedish come together to nominate the winner Settling in Mora and Creating traditions became a cause celebre with of the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1914 a National Legacy the Zorns. At the turn-of-the-20th- Zorn’s national support was further Zorn was always keenly aware of century the couple actively supported conveyed to the Swedish Army and Navy his brand and had a natural sense and personally funded several in the contribution of the military’s first for attracting business, particularly important causes. Emma Zorn founded aircraft. among America’s Gilded Age of a lecture society, a public library, and entrepreneurs, but not so much in the Mora Handicrafts Society, which Last Days and Sweden. Nevertheless, he was homesick still exists and has a shop in central Concluding Thoughts and wanted to return to Mora. In 1896 Mora where they sell local folk art, Zorn led an unhealthy lifestyle. He they resettled in Mora where ten years including Dala horses. habitually smoked cigarettes, drank earlier they had purchased land adjacent Although the Zorns never had relentlessly, indulged in rich foods, to Mora church. A cottage from Zorn’s children of their own, Anders Zorn caroused with young women, and kept beloved grandfather’s farm was moved understood the value of a secure a hectic schedule. His health began to to the location and they began enlarging childhood and education. He and Emma decline suddenly, and while on a Baltic and remodelling it—and naming it decided to provide opportunities to sailing trip, Zorn became seriously ill Zorngården. (It was completed in 1910.) underprivileged children in Dalarna, and and taken home to Mora to undergo After living a cosmopolitan life, together, they built a home for orphans. surgery, which he did not survive. Emma had to become accustomed to In 1907 they also helped establish the Anders Zorn passed away on August country life. It was helpful that she Mora Residential College on land 22, 1920 at the age of sixty. His funeral had learned to speak the local dialect they purchased on the banks of Lake was conducted by The Most Reverend when her husband was ill with typhoid. Siljan with the sole purpose of building Nathan Söderblom (1866–1931), She quickly grew to love the people of a folkhögskola (people’s college). At the Archbishop of Uppsala and head of Mora and found her place in society college Zorn personally taught classes the Lutheran Church in Sweden and by helping to preserve the local culture in drawing and Emma lectured on future recipient of the 1930 Nobel Peace and traditions. Today, Emma Zorn is preserving local heritage. The couple also Prize. Also in attendance at the funeral credited, among other achievements, as provided several generous scholarships at were representatives of the Swedish being instrumental in saving Sweden’s various learning institutions. Royal Family and many celebrated Hemslöjd (handicraft) from obscurity. In addition to painting and sculpting, personalities. Anders Zorn was buried The main part of Zorngården consists Anders Zorn also enjoyed folk music at the cemetery in his beloved boyhood california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013 9

William Howard Taft, 1911 Self Portrait in Red, 1915 Oil on canvas 46.380 3 35.130 Oil on canvas 47.240 3 35.40 Collection of The White House Collection of Zornmuseet, Mora

village of Mora. that exuded in his paintings. His genuine Notes: To honour the memory of her connection to the people of his time The exhibition, Anders Zorn, Sweden’s husband, Emma Zorn spent her and their way of life transcends to any Master Painter, is on view at the Fine Arts remaining twenty-one years creating a culture and in any era. Museums San Francisco – Legion of Honor museum, which opened to the public Zorn overcame social, cultural, and from November 9 through February 2, 2014. in 1939. She completed the existing financial obstacles that could have Elaine Adams is a published author and collection by re-purchasing a number of otherwise discouraged his pursuits public speaker on topics relating to fine arts paintings that they had sold in the past. in life. He challenged himself and and aesthetics, and is Editor-in-chief of the She also continued the philanthropic succeeded in reaching greater heights— California Art Club Newsletter as well as work that she and her husband had including achieving access to kings, executive director and CEO of CAC. Research sources for this article include: begun together. Emma Zorn died on queens, and presidents. Even with the Anders Zorn, Sweden’s Master Painter, January 4, 1942. acceptance and accolades Zorn received by authors, Johan Cederlund, Hans At his death, Zorn was worth nearly from the most elite of society, he never Henrik Brummer, Pat Hedström, and 9 million dollars in today’s equivalent lost touch with his rustic roots—and James A. Ganz, published in 2013 by value, all of which he left to the people it’s in his portrayal of humble people Skira Rizolli; The Artist Anders Zorn of Sweden. His magnanimous character enjoying simple pleasures that we find 1860–1920 by Birgitta Sanstrom, revised was generous and full of life—qualities ourselves indebted to the genius of 2009 edition, published by The Zorn Anders Zorn. Museum, Mora; Zorn in America: A Swedish Impressionist of the Gilded Age by William & Willow Hagans, copyright 2007, published online by the Swedish- American Historical Society, in coordination with the American Swedish Institute. california art club www.californiaartclub.org fall 2013