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Lecture

Patrick Bade
Akseli Gallen-Kallela: The Creation of Finnish Identity

Wednesday 21.09.2022

Summary

An introduction to Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Finland’s greatest national painter. Patrick Bade discusses Gallen-Kallela’s life and how he fit into Finnish culture and the creation of a Finnish identity independent from that of Sweden, Russia, and Norway.

Patrick Bade

An image of Patrick Bade.

Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.

As far as I know, there’s only one in Britain, in the National Gallery. There must be some, I would think, in America. I presume that Chicago has some, because he was very successful in Chicago and won medals. But otherwise I think you’re just going to have to go to Finland to see his work.