Kullervo Sets Off for War
Painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kullervo Sets Off for War (Finnish: Kullervon sotaanlähtö) is a painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela from the year 1901. He painted the subject in tempera painting (89 × 128 cm)[1] and as a fresco (355 × 687 cm) which is located in the music hall of Old Student House of Helsinki University.[2]
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| Kullervo Sets Off for War | |
|---|---|
| Kullervon sotaanlähtö (Finnish) | |
Gallen-Kallela's tempera version from 1901. | |
| Artist | Akseli Gallen-Kallela |
| Year | 1901 |
| Medium | Mural & Tempera |
| Dimensions | 355 cm x 687 cm (mural) 89 cm x 128 cm (tempera) |
| Location | Mural: Old Student House Tempera: Ateneum, Helsinki |
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Description
The fresco was donated to the Students' union by Otto Donner.[3]
The theme for the painting is from the Kalevala, national epic of Finland. Kullervo sits on a white horse ready to ride to war, to take revenge on his uncle Untamo.[4] He is followed by a dog or a wolf.
Gallen-Kallela traveled to Siena, Italy, where he likely saw the frescoes by Simone Martini in the Palazzo Pubblico. Martini's Equestrian portrait probably gave Gallen-Kallela inspiration for the setting of Kullervo.[5]
Gallery
1897 sketch of the work by Gallen-Kallela
Simone Martini, Equestrian portrait of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, c. 1330
1935 Finnish postage stamp featuring the painting
