Elias Martin

Elias Martin (8 March 1739 – 25 January 1818) was a Swedish genre, history, and landscape painter and engraver from Stockholm.

Early life

Martin's father was a carpenter who wanted his son to work in carpentry. Martin, however, was more interested in art, and decided to become an apprentice of the Swedish court painter . During his time with Schultz, he was hired by the naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman to design ship ornaments. This job led to an acquaintanceship with Augustin Ehrensvärd, a lieutenant colonel in the artillery and a painter, who brought Martin to the sea fortress of Sveaborg and encouraged him to pursue his painting.

In May 1766, Martin travelled to Le Havre and Paris in France where he mostly worked on his own. He tried to copy the style of François Boucher, but quickly realized that it did not suit him. Finding that he did not wish to follow French classicism, he moved to London . He may have briefly visited Rome before his move.

Works