Mikael Toppelius

The family's original surname was "Toppila", but his grandfather had Latinized it when he began a civil service career.

His father was a clerk for the local customs office and an amateur painter, who inspired Mikael's interest in art and gave him his first lessons.

[1] As it turned out, the priest's brother was the Royal Librarian so, in 1751, Toppelius went to Stockholm with a letter of recommendation to Johan Pasch, the court painter.

He remained there as an apprentice for two years, doing decorative work at the castle for the new King, Adolf Frederick.

He returned to Oulu in 1753, and three years later, was given his first job as a professional artist, decorating the old church in Hailuoto, which burned down in 1968.