"The horse - the artist's best friend." This statement may be somewhat exaggerated, but Western art history bears a long tradition of horse painters. At times, the horse has served as a podium for an imposing warrior king, while other times it involves straightforward portraits of the stable's workhorses. Among these artists is Sven Erik Hellqvist. Born in 1916 in a modest farmworker's home, he worked as a stable boy before, in his twenties, he applied to Edward Berggren's painting school in Stockholm. Following this, he studied at the Académie Julian in Paris before returning to Sweden. During his active years, he mainly earned a living as a horse painter. As Södermanlands Auktionsverk now offers around 40 paintings, we get several samples of his sensitivity to horses, a connection that can only be developed by spending a considerable amount of time close to them. However, the theme also offers other aspects of his catalog, showcasing his versatility as an artist. Welcome to Södermanlands Auktionsverk!
