ELIAS MARTIN. Asklepios.

Oil on canvas 59,2 x 73,7 cm, including frame 70 x 87 cm. On verso attested by Ragnar Hoppe, author of the book “The Painter Elias Martin” (1923) and 1st curator at the Nationalmuseum 1922—1950.

PROVENANCE
Manager Axel Lundin

The painting relates to a theme in Martin's late work with figurative representations of stories and people from past times — drawn from history, the Bible or ancient mythology. Often as here represented with his typical figures — a bit sloppy, wry, naive and at the same time expressive.

The painting depicts Asklepios — the father of the arts of medicine — the historical/fictional figure who had healing and miraculous powers in ancient Greece and around whom people with various illnesses or physical problems flocked. Like the wind-eyed figure on the left. One story of Asklepios relates that a dead child was brought up to him, and he was able to bring it to life. Perhaps this is the anecdote shown here. And perhaps the woman holding the baby is Hygiea — the daughter of Asclepius who assisted him in his ministry.

Asklepios appears elsewhere in Martin's oeuvre. For example, in 1783 he executed a painting depicting Ulla von Höpken sacrificing to Asklepios — in a kind of theatrical sacrificial scene (Malmö Konstmuseum, MM 030192) (see fig). The painting in question is difficult to date. Most likely it was made during Martin's time in England (1768-80), but may also have been created after his return to Sweden. Martin likely based Asclepius's appearance on an ancient role model. The interest in antiquity was during this time very great and copies after antiquity were available at the Royal Academy in London. Its president, Sir Joshua Reynolds, himself incorporated an antique bust depicting Homer into a self-portrait from c. 1780 (see fig.)

Stockholms Auktionsverk would like to extend its warm thanks to Associate Professor Mikael Ahlund, museum director at Gustavianum in Uppsala and author of “Voices of the Landscape. Studies in Martin's Pictorial World”, 2011, for his valuable assistance in connection with the cataloguing of this work.