Sven Unander (Oscar Björck) - Nationalmuseum - 18838

Oscar Björck (1860–1929) Born in Stockholm, from 1877 to 1882, Björck was a student of Edvard Perséus at the Academy where his paintings included Loke fängslas af asarne (Loki imprisoned by Æsir) (1880), Gustaf Vasa inför kung Hans (Gustaf Vasa before King Hans) (1881) and Den förlorade sonens återkomst (Return of the prodigal son) (1882) which was awarded the Royal Medal. In 1883, Björck was awarded a travel scholarship. He spent the winter of 1883–84 in Paris. The following winter, he went to Munich where he painted a few portraits, including a full-length painting of his wife. In the spring of 1885, he moved to Venice and, in the autumn, to Rome where he painted the large portrait of Susanna (Gothenburg Museum of Art) and Romerska smeder (Roman blacksmiths) (Washington National Gallery of Art, Washington). In 1887, he completed a number of paintings including the Veneziansk saluhall (Venetian hall) (Nationalmuseum of Sweden), and Lördagsmässa i Markuskyrkan (Saturday Mass in St. Mark's Church).