On November 12, 2021, at the Maupertuis seminar in Tornio, I have the honor to present the artwork I painted and say a few words about it.
The journey into painting a historical portrait is a very interesting and one might say captivating process. I had a wealth of source material and precise instructions at my disposal, which were important to consider. At the same time, it provided an excellent opportunity for creativity and free interpretation.
The artwork was painted in a traditional manner with oil paints on linen canvas. The work lasted several months. I stretched the linen canvas onto stretcher bars and primed it 6-7 times. I made a preliminary drawing showing the proportions and composition, as well as several color sketches.
Only after this did the actual portrait painting begin.
The portrait depicts the French scientist Pierre Louis Maupertuis. In this work, he is dressed in a traditional Sámi costume, which includes a warm reddish long coat and a fur-trimmed hat.
Behind Maupertuis, the village of Pello and Kittisvaara open up. The Korteniemi house is also visible in the artwork. The scientist is depicted against the backdrop of a nocturnal winter landscape. He was a member of the French Academy of Sciences and the leader of the expedition, and he personally got to experience the snowy Finnish landscape and the challenging winter conditions.
More about this exciting journey can be read in the book The Shape of the Earth, translated by Osmo Pekonen. The Northern Lights and the Ursa Major constellation are visible in the sky. The entire idea of the expedition and its execution were very courageous and extensive, especially in the 1730s.
I feel great honor and joy in being able to paint this portrait and thus participate in this historical occasion as an artist. In my opinion, this represents an interaction between different times and different countries, connecting the world and people in the present moment.
0 comments