Johan Fredrik Höckert (26 August 1826 – 16 September 1866) was a well-known Swedish artist from Jönköping known for his colorful, dramatic oil paintings depicting historical events.

[3] During his school years, Höckert became friends with Swedish painter Johan Christoffer Boklund, who he had met by coincidence.

[4] During his final year at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, Höckert went on a study tour through Sweden, primarily in Jönköping.

[3] In 1846, after graduating, Höckert traveled with Boklund to Munich for further studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

[2] Höckert chose Lapland because he had been inspired by the lively descriptions botanic Nils Johan Andersson had made about the nature and people there.

He moved to Paris in 1851, and brought with him several sketches he had made depicting events in Swedish history from the two past centuries.

[3] The painting was put on display at the 1855 World's Fair in Paris, and Höckert was awarded with a gold medal for it.

He returned to Paris the same year and made another popular painting: Det inre af en lappkåta (English: The inside of a goahti).

It was awarded with a mention honorable at the Paris Salon in 1857,[3] and was bought by the Swedish government to be displayed at the National Museum of Fine Arts.

[2] He soon became vice-professor at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, and begun work on his next painting: Brudfärd på Hornavan.

While traveling in this part of Sweden, Höckert used the scenery around him as inspiration for his paintings, including Gustav Vasa och Tomt Margit, which is now displayed at Utmelandsmonumentet in Mora, Dalarna.

[4] From 1864 to 1865, Höckert also provided illustrations (and political caricatures[5]) for the newly established magazine Ny illustrerad tidning.

[3] The painting was large and time consuming, and Höckert made a break from it while making a trip to Hälsingland in 1865.

[3] When Höckert returned from his trip, the count of Trolleholm Castle did no longer want the Slottsbranden i Stockholm den 7 maj 1697 painting.

[3] As a result, Höckert made a quick effort to get it finished for the 1866 Scandinavian art fair in Stockholm instead.

[4] The painting was later displayed in Paris and Philadelphia in 1867,[4] before being bought by Höckert's heirs in 1883 and given to its current home at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Sweden.