Nobel bust acquired to Nationalmuseum's collections

Most people recognize the portrait from the annual Nobel Prize Ceremony in the Stockholm Concert Hall. The bronze bust of Alfred Nobel is in focus of the TV camera, surrounded by prize winners, royalties and members of the Swedish Academy. Yesterday, the day before this year’s Nobel Ceremony, Nationalmuseum in Stockholm managed to acquire an example of the well known bronze bust from the auction house Thomas Del Mar in London. The acquisition will now be included in the National Portrait Gallery at Gripsholms Castle, among with other famous persons. Thanks to the Hedda and N. D Qvists Foundation, Nationalmuseum were able to get the bust as an important part of the Swedish cultural heritage, though the museum itself do not possess own means to acquire art.

-For a long time, we’ve been searching for a representative portrait of Alfred Nobel to the collections of the National Portrait Gallery. There for, we’re now very pleased to add one of the most famous and significant Swedes to the portrait collection. The bust will be displayed together with other famous portraits at Gripsholm Castle , where both Swedish and international visitors may enjoy and appreciate it, says Magnus Olausson, Director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Castles Collections.

The bust is made by the artist Erik Lindberg in 1910 after the death of Nobel. Though, the most famous art work by the artist is probably the medal with the profile of Nobel that is given to the prize winners today. The bust exists in a few copies and one of them is in the Nobel foundation collections.  The bust of Nationalmuseum was bought from Scotland and was earlier possessed by Nobel Enterprises Ltd. and placed at their office in Glasgow.

There is also an earlier connection between Nobel och Nationalmuseum. In the mid 1930’s, a lot of the Nobel receptions were arranged at the museum. Prize winner in that time was for example the chemist and physicist Irène Joliot-Curie, daughter of  Marie Curie.

Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) is well known, both in Sweden and world wide. His most famous invention as a successful chemist and business man came to be the dynamite. In his last will and testament, Nobel wanted the larger part of his fortune would be used to acknowledge piece deeds, science and literature, which is appointed yet today.

For further information and press image:
Lena Munther, Head of Information an PR, Nationalmuseum,
+46-8-5195 4390/91, lmr@nationalmuseum.se

Photo: Thomas Del Mar Ltd, London.