Who is Nils Schillmark?

Nils Schillmark (26 June 1745 – 28 January 1804) was a Swedish painter who lived and worked in Finland.

Schillmark was born in Skellefteå as the youngest son in a farmer’s family. He initially studied in Stockholm and next moved to Suomenlinna in the eastern portion of Sweden, now Finland, in 1773. He painted portraits, still lifes, and landscapes, particularly river landscapes. Schillmark along taking into consideration Isak Wacklin were to the lead Finnish landscape painters. He then painted natural world works same to the Von Wright brothers, such as hunting and fishing scenes. In Helsinki he painted portraits of officers and non-socialists. In 1776 he traveled and worked in Loviisa and Heinola, eventually settling at the provincial governor’s residence in Kymenkartano. In 1782 he painted portraits of the bishop of Porvoo and a merchant and his wife in Loviisa. Some of his works can be found at the Ateneum and the City Museum of Heinola. He died in Loviisa.