Ingel Fallstedt

Ingel Fallstedt (20 October 1848, Stockholm - 13 May 1899, Copenhagen) was a Swedish sculptor. He committed suicide before the unveiling of his statue honoring John Ericsson; his first major project.

Biography His father, Hampus Ludvig Fallstedt, was an official of the Riksbank. His mother, Maria Charlotta Wallander, was the sister of painter and art professor, Josef Wilhelm Wallander. In 1878, he participated in an exhibition at the Salon, but was not very successful.

Around 1880, he married the Swedish actress, Maria Lovisa Hammarstrand (1845-1929). The following year, he participated in another exhibition, in Sweden, at the "". This time, his busts received some positive critical attention and he received numerous orders; including one from King Oscar II.

Following that, he moved to Italy, where he spent several years in Florence, then relocated to Copenhagen. From 1883 to 1885, he received several orders from the Danish royal family. Around 1890, he moved to Gothenburg, where he continued to attract orders. One was for a bust of the merchant, James Fredrik Dickson, who became a major patron.

His last sculpture, and only major work, was a statue of the inventor, John Ericsson, which he completed in 1899. Shortly after, he was admitted to the hospital at the University of Lund, where he was diagnosed with neurasthenia; most likely depression, resulting from extreme fatigue. After fourteen days at the clinic, he and Maria decided to take a vacation in Copenhagen. One early morning, he locked himself into a room. Later that day, he was found dead; hanging from a hook on a window post.

Work on the statue had been stressful. His initial design, a bust on a column, had been rejected in favor of a full figure. It was also to be cast in bronze; a medium that was unfamiliar to him. He worked it over several times, but was not satisfied with the results; becoming very agitated, then indifferent. In the opinion of his assistant, Ludvig Brandstrup, "it was the statue that killed him".