Erik Palmstedt

Erik Palmstedt (16 December 1741, Stockholm — 12 June 1803) was a Swedish architect[1] working for the court circle of Gustav III, where he was in the forefront of Neoclassical style and at the heart of a social and intellectual circle that formed round him. He was also a musician, who served as organist at Riddarholm Church for twenty-seven years.

Börshuset, the Stockholm Bourse, (1767-1778)

Early life and education

Erik Palmstedt was born in Södermalm on December 5, 1741, according to the Julian Calendar in use at that time (December 16, 1741 according to the Gregorian Calendar later adopted and currently in use.) He was the son of court musician Johan Palmstedt and his wife Maria Segerlund.

At the age of seven, Palmstedt began to attend Maria Church School, where one of his schoolmates was the future Swedish writer of songs Carl Michael Bellman, who became his lifelong friend.[2]

At the age of 14, Palmstedt became a pupil of Stockholm's city architect, Johan Eberhard Carlberg. In an assessment written when Palmstedt was 19, Carlsberg praised him for his "unusual wisdom, labor and diligence."[3]

Career

As early as 1760, Palmstedt's name appears on architectural drawings for eight buildings in Södermalm, which had suffered a major fire in 1759.[3]

After the death of Carlberg in 1773, Palmstedt became Stockholm's vice-architect, a position he would hold until the end of his life. (It was Karl Henrik König who succeeded Carlberg as chief architect.)[2]

Having intently studied recent developments in architecture through the medium of engravings, in 1778-80 he was able for the first time to travel to France and Italy to study architecture at first hand. Through his marriage in 1784 to Hedvig Gustafva Robsahmsson, he was rendered financially independent. The circle that gathered at their house on Svartmannagatan included noted Swedish songwriter Carl Michael Bellman and the composer Joseph Martin Kraus.

He was made a fellow of the Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in 1791; he was also a member of the Royal Academy of Music.

Notable works
  • Börshuset, (Stockholm bourse), 1767-1778 (illustration).
  • Gripsholm, the Court Theatre, 1781, inspired by Palladio's 16th century Teatro Olimpico[4]
  • Norrbro, the old "North Bridge", Stockholm, rebuilt in stone, in partnership with Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz, 1781-1807
  • Tullhuset, the Customs Warehouse along Skeppsbron, Stockholm, 1783-1790
  • Svartå slott, 1783-1792
  • Arvfurstens palats, for Princess Sophia Albertina, Stockholm, 1783-1794. Today it houses the Swedish Foreign Office.

References
  1. The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. OUP. 2015. ISBN 9780191053856. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  2. Stugart, Martin (November 28, 1995). "Börshuset blev Palmstedts chans (Börshuset became Palmsted's opportunity)". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved November 9, 2018. Den nya börsbyggnaden vid Stortorget har stått på dagordningen i nästan ett halvt århundrade. Stadsarkitekten Carlberg lägger redan 1729 fram ett förslag som avslås. Nu får Erik Palmstedt chansen. År 1767 ställs han vid överintendent Cronstedts sida med uppdrag att slutföra arbetet med Börshuset. (The new stock exchange building at Stortorget has been on the agenda for almost half a century. In 1729, city architect Carlberg had submitted a proposal, which was rejected. Erik Palmstedt now gets the chance. In 1767 he told to work with superintendent Cronsted on the task of completing plans for the Börshuset.)
  3. Malmström, Krister. "Erik Palmstedt". Dictionary of Swedish National Biography. Swedish National Archives. Retrieved November 7, 2018. Vid 14 års ålder inträdde P i det s k Informationsverket, den halvprivata arkitektskola som stadsarkitekten J E Carlberg drev i brist på reguljär undervisning. Carlberg och hans efterträdare C König (bd 21), den andre av P:s lärare, sökte härmed för den växande huvudstaden få fram arkitekter som behärskade både den stora arkitekturen och ingenjörskonsten.
  4. "Gripsholm Castle Theatre: Erik Palmstedt". European Theatre Architecture (EUTA) database. Arts and Theatre Institute, Prague. Retrieved November 9, 2018. The king’s private palace theatre was completed in 1781. It was designed by the Swedish architect Erik Palmstedt who was inspired by his travels in Europe, especially by Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. He used the circle shape of one of the castles’s four round towers to create an intimate amphitheatre that offers seats for some sixty guests, whereas the non-gentile audience could watch through the “lorgnettes” in the dome. Gripsholm Palace Theatre has been preserved in its entirety since the last recorded performance in 1785.
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