Carl Wahlbom

Johan Wilhelm Carl Wahlbom (16 October 1810 – 25 April 1858) was a Swedish painter, illustrator and sculptor.

His father, Adolf, was a pastor and professor and his grandfather, Johan Gustaf Wahlbom [sv], was a noted doctor and scientist who studied with Carl Linnaeus.

In his letters, he also expressed interest in literary and artistic endeavors and made illustrations for a student publication called Kornblixten (heat lightning).

After his father died in 1828, he was forced to find employment as a teacher at the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute, which provided housing.

He later produced lithographs, including a series of twenty-four historical scenes with text by Karl August Nicander.

After that, he supported himself with his illustrations and occasional work as a gym teacher, although he did take some time to study anatomy with Anders Retzius.

With recommendations from Ling and the academy's art director, Johan Gustaf Sandberg, he was able to go on a study trip to Paris.

Wahlbom travelled to Germany and made extensive preliminary sketches but, upon his return, was told that the publisher had gone out of business.

He began painting in oils and, with a recommendation from Olof Johan Södermark, a military officer who was a part-time painter, he was able to receive lessons from Franz Xaver Winterhalter.

[4] When his mentor, Westin, left the academy, Wahlbom was named to replace him but, shortly after the appointment, he was found on the floor of a hotel room, unconscious from a stroke.