Elias Martin (1739-1818 - Asklepios and His Followers

Elias Martin (1739?1818) Sweden

Asklepios and His Followers

oil on canvas
unframed: 59.5 x 74 cm (23 3/8 x 29 1/8 in)

Certified on the reverse: "Original by Elias Martin (1739–1818), certified in Stockholm, January 1950, Ragnar Hoppe.

Provenance:
Director Axel Lundin.

Essay:
This captivating work belongs to Elias Martin’s later period, characterized by his exploration of historical, biblical, and mythological themes. As Mikael Ahlund, Director of the Gustavianum Museum and author of Landskapets röster. Studier i Martins bildvärld (2011), notes, Martin’s figure compositions often depict slightly ragged, naive, yet expressive characters. This painting exemplifies that style.

The scene portrays Asklepios, the ancient Greek god of healing, surrounded by his followers. The figure on the left, with a distinctively crossed gaze, illustrates the variety of ailments for which people sought Asklepios’ miraculous care. The mother and child may allude to a tale in which Asklepios revived a seemingly lifeless child. The woman holding the child is possibly Hygiea, his daughter and companion in his medical practice.

This interpretation aligns with Martin’s familiarity with the myth of Asklepios, which he referenced elsewhere in his work. Notably, in 1783, Martin created a theatrical scene depicting Ulla von Höpken making an offering to Asklepios (Malmö Art Museum, inventory no. MM 030192).

About the Artist:
Elias Martin, a prominent Swedish painter, earned international acclaim during his lifetime for his landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes. After training in Paris and London, he became an associate member of the Royal Academy in England, where he further developed his watercolor technique and taught drawing and engraving. Returning to Sweden in 1780, Martin became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts and contributed significantly to Swedish art, producing over 200 oil paintings and countless prints.

In his later years, Martin’s focus shifted to religious themes, as seen in works like The Preaching of St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness (Sörmland Museum) and The Lord’s Prayer. He was a close associate of Carl Michael Bellman, Erik Palmstedt, and Johan Tobias Sergel. Martin’s works are held in numerous prestigious collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Gothenburg Museum of Art, and Uppsala University Library.

This painting exemplifies Martin’s nuanced storytelling and his ability to evoke timeless narratives through expressive and theatrical compositions.