Magnus von Wright

Artist

Magnus von Wright

Magnus von Wright (1805-1868) was a Finnish-Swedish painter and educator. He was one of the three von Wright brothers who were both scientists and artists. His interests lay in ornithological illustration and landscape painting.

Magnus von Wright Biography

• Born June 13, 1805 in Kuopio, Finland
• He attended school in Turku and then entered the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm.
• In 1828, together with his brother Wilhelm, he began work on the bird guide "Svenska Fåglar" (Birds of Sweden).
• In addition to producing bird guides, he also works on landscape paintings.
• In 1847 he became head of the painting school at the University of Helsinki.
• In 1852, he helped found the Finnish Arts Society.
• Died in Helsinki on July 5, 1868 (aged 63)

Representative works

• "Svenska Fåglar" (Birds of Sweden) (1828-1838)
• Fight (1834)
• "Landscape with Birds"

Von Wright's style and achievements

Von Wright's works are characterized by realistic and detailed depictions and his delicate depiction of the beauty of nature. In his bird guide "Svenska Fåglar," he accurately described the morphology and ecology of birds, contributing to the development of ornithology. In his landscape paintings, he also portrays Finnish nature with a poetic feeling that captivates the viewer.

He made a great contribution to the development of Finnish art, and his works are housed in many museums, including the Finnish National Gallery. He was also active as an educator, nurturing many young artists. His work is also significant in terms of the fusion of natural science and art .