The Defense of the Sampo
Akseli Gallen-Kallela · 1896
Why it's great
Warriors fight off an eagle and storm clouds to defend a magical mill called the Sampo, in a scene from Finland's national epic the Kalevala. Akseli Gallen-Kallela painted this in 1896 in a tempera style. The swirling shapes are full of energy. It's an exciting picture of Finnish myth.
👀 Look closer!
Find the eagle and the magic Sampo. Who do you think will win?
Where to see it
📍 Turku Art MuseumTurku, Finland
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela was born in Pori, Finland, and became the country's most famous painter. He painted scenes from the Kalevala, Finland's national epic, and studied in Paris. He lived in Finland and traveled to Africa and the United States. He died in Stockholm in 1931.
