Valdemar Atterdag holding Visby to ransom
Carl Gustaf Hellqvist · 1882
Why it's great
The Danish king Valdemar Atterdag sits in front of piles of treasure, in 1361, after conquering the Swedish town of Visby on the island of Gotland, while the townspeople bring gold and silver to ransom the town. Carl Gustaf Hellqvist painted this dramatic scene in 1882. It shows a dark day in the history of Gotland. It's one of the most famous Swedish history paintings.
Where to see it
📍 NationalmuseumStockholm, Sweden
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →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.
Carl Gustaf Hellqvist was born in Sweden in 1851 and studied in Stockholm and Munich. He painted large history paintings full of drama. He died young, in Munich, at 39.
