Oscar Björck

Born in Stockholm, from 1877 to 1882, Björck was a student of Edvard Perséus at the Academy where his paintings included Loke fängslas af asarne (Loki imprisoned by Æsir) (1880), Gustaf Vasa inför kung Hans (Gustaf Vasa before King Hans) (1881) and Den förlorade sonens återkomst (Return of the prodigal son) (1882) which was awarded the Royal Medal.

In 1887, he completed a number of paintings including the Veneziansk saluhall (Venetian hall) (Nationalmuseum of Sweden), and Lördagsmässa i Markuskyrkan (Saturday Mass in St. Mark's Church).

He also painted Prins Eugen vid staffliet (Prince Eugen at the easel) (Nationamuseum, 1895); Crown Prince Gustaf (Stockholm Palace, 1900), The Artist's Wife (full-length, 1891, Gothenburg Museum) and Baron Johan Nordenfalk den yngre [sv] (Royal Academy, 1892).

He immediately became attached to the artists' community there, especially Michael Ancher, his wife Anna and Holger Drachmann.

Björck spent several summers there, completing some of his best paintings under the influence of Krøyer and the French Naturalism movement.