Emil Cedercreutz

Cedercreutz was born in the Köyliönkartano Manor [fi]. His parents were Baron Axel Fredrik Nicolaus Cedercreutz and Johanna Lovisa Mariana Björkenheim.^[6] Cedercreutz studied in the Finnish Art Society's Drawing School in Helsinki and later in Brussels 1903–1904, Rome 1904–1905 and in Académie Julian in Paris from 1906 to 1909. According to a 1917–1944 register of Finnish writers, he also studied at the Finnish Art Society's drawing school in 1897 and 1902, in Belgium from 1900 to 1903, and at the Académie Julian from 1906 to 1913.^[7] He was influenced by the sculptors like Charles van der Stappen, Constantin Meunier ja Auguste Rodin as well as the Tolstoyan movement.^[8]

In 1914 Cedercreutz started working in his new atelier by the river Kokemäenjoki in the municipality of Harjavalta. Cedercreutz was also collecting historical artifacts from the countryside of Satakunta province.^[8] 1916 he established a museum in Harjavalta, known today as the Emil Cedercreutz Museum [fi], showing collections of Cedercreutz's work, cultural history and temporary art exhibitions.^[9]