Jacob Heinrich Elbfas

Who was Jacob Heinrich Elbfas?

Jacob Heinrich Elbfas was a portrait painter

Elbfas was born in Livonia and educated in Strasbourg, in a tradition dating back to Renaissance portraits. He established himself in Sweden from 1622 and from 1628 in Stockholm where he became a guild master. During the period 1634 to 1640 he worked as a court painter for Queen Maria Eleonora. He was frequently employed by the Swedish nobility. His influence on Swedish art was considerable until a new generation of artists were invited by Queen Christina during the 1640s. He died in Stockholm.