Christian Fredrik Svensson was a Swedish artist primarily known as a marine painter. Born in Stockholm, his fascination with the sea began early in life when he worked as a cabin boy. He later trained and served as a steamboat captain before dedicating himself full-time to painting in 1899, after retiring from the naval reserve.
Svensson's artistic journey was shaped by studies under prominent marine painters, including Jacob Hägg in Stockholm and Carl Frederik Sørensen in Copenhagen. He also received instruction in etching techniques from Theodor Gellerstedt. His background as a seaman gave him a deep understanding of maritime life, which he masterfully translated onto canvas. His works often depict various coasts and seas, capturing the drama of ships on the open water.
Oil on canvas, clubbed for 1 006 GBP at Auktionsverket Norrköping.
Painter of Seascapes and Genre Scenes
Throughout his career, Svensson exhibited his art extensively, participating in exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and international events like the Paris Exposition in 1878 and the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. He was made a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1883.
Svensson's art consists of marine paintings executed in oil, as well as drypoint engravings. His work is represented in the collections of several institutions, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Swedish National Maritime Museum, and the Göteborg Museum of Art. His notable works include paintings of various ships, such as the frigate Norrköping and the steamboat Birger Jarl, as well as scenes like "Fischer vor dem Hafen" (Fishermen in front of the harbor).