Treasures from the Nationalmuseum of Sweden: The Collections of Count Tessin

A rare showcase of the founding collection of the Nationalmuseum of Sweden, originally formed by the remarkable holdings of the diplomat and connoisseur Count Carl Gustaf Tessin.

In a special partnership with Sweden’s Nationalmuseum, the Morgan Library & Museum presents the nucleus of the Stockholm-based institution to a new global audience. Assembled by Swedish diplomat and connoisseur Count Carl Gustaf Tessin (1696–1770) mainly during his time in Paris as special ambassador from 1739 to 1742, this collection features the bounties of his involvement in the cultural scene of the city. Not only was he a friend and collector of the leading artists of the time, including François Boucher, Jean Siméon Chardin, and Jean-Baptiste Oudry, he was also a commissioner of some of the greatest French paintings of the eighteenth century.

This beautifully illustrated catalogue offers an in-depth survey of these core works from the Nationalmuseum’s distinguished collection, featuring entries by scholars from the Nationalmuseum, the Morgan, and the Louvre, alongside essays on the noteworthy Count Tessin. Aside from his penchant for collecting French drawings and paintings, the book also delves into his collection of old master drawings from Italian and Northern European artists, such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Raphael, Annibale Carracci, Albrecht Dürer, Rubens, and Rembrandt.

Published by the Morgan Library & Museum

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