"Carl von Linné” (1707-1778)
Signed Eldh. Foundry stamp Sthlms Konstgjuteri. Patinated bronze. Height 30.5 cm.
Karl Asplund, "Carl Eldh", SAK 1943, jfr plansch 43 från 1930 samt bild s.159 (snarlika kompositioner). Motivet omnämns s. 159-161.
The monumental statue of Linnaeus stands in Stortorget in Älmhult, but it differs somewhat as he is, for example, holding the flower in his other hand.
Carl Eldh is known as a national treasure for his sculptures. After practicing as a decorative woodcarver during his youth, including working on the renovation of Uppsala Cathedral, Eldh travelled to Paris where he remained for several years while attending free classes in drawing and sculpture under the tutorship of Auguste Rodin. At his arrival back in Stockholm, he eventually had Ragnar Östberg build for him a combined residence and studio in Bellevue Park, which remained untouched after his death. Many of his statues can be found in parkes and open places in Stockholm, while his smaller statues are represented at several Swedish museums, one can even go and visit Carl Eldh's home and studio, now a museum open for the public.
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