Jean Eric Rehn (18 May 1717,

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

- 19 May 1793, Stockholm) was a Swedish architect, engraver and designer.

Biography

His father, Eric, was a government ombudsman for the

Sámi people The Sámi ( ; also spelled Sami or Saami) are a Finno-Ugric languages#Speakers, Finno-Ugric-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland), which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, ...

. While still a boy, he became part of the , a forerunner to the engineering corps, where he served as a Sub-Lieutenant. In 1740, at the age of twenty-three, he went to Paris to study

etching Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other types ...

, with the help of a government grant. There, he worked in the studios of

Jacques-Philippe Le Bas Jacques-Philippe Le Bas, or Lebas (8 July 1707, Paris – 14 April 1783, Paris) was a French engraver, head of the largest engraving workshop in Paris during the 18th century. Life and work His father was a wig-maker, and his family was very poor ...

, creating hunting scenes. In 1745 the architect,

Carl Hårleman Baron Carl Hårleman (27 August 1700 – 9 February 1753) was a Swedish architect. Biography Hårleman was born in Stockholm, son of the garden architect and head of the royal parks and gardens Johan Hårleman, who had been ennobled in 1698. ...

, made contact with him on behalf of the Swedish government, offering him a position creating designs for the silk, wool and linen factories supported by the , and related facilities. Drottningholm bibliotek 1767

In addition to his work at the factories, he made designs for jewelers, carpenters and the Rörstrand Porcelain company; designed wallpaper for the French weavers employed by the Royal Family and made engravings for medals. He also served as drawing teacher for Crown Prince (later King)

Gustav III Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what ...

and his brothers. Later, he set up an engraving school and became an employee of the (Superintendent's Office) in 1753. Two years later, at the expense of Queen Louisa Ulrika, he accompanied the painter,

Johan Pasch Johan Pasch (12 March 1706, Stockholm - 16 January 1769, Stockholm) was a Swedish painter, etcher and Decorative painter, decorative artist. He is sometimes referred to as The Elder to distinguish him from another, minor, painter named Johan Pasch ...

, to France and Italy. He returned after sixteen months and was named a Professor of the Royal Drawing Academy in 1757. He was heavily employed by the Royal Court as well, doing interior design work for Queen Louisa at

Drottningholm Palace The Drottningholm Palace ( sv, Drottningholms slott) is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. Drottningholm is near the capital Stockholm. Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County), it is one of Swede ...

. Later, in 1779, he oversaw the changes at

Gripsholm Castle Gripsholm Castle ( sv, Gripsholms slott) is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav Vasa, Gripshol ...

and

Stockholm Palace Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace ( sv, Stockholms slott or ) is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch (King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia use Drottningholm Palace as their usual residence). Stockholm Palac ...

, which had been ordered by King Gustav III. He also redecorated parts of the

Bollhuset Bollhuset, also called (The Big Ball House), (Ball House Theater), and Gamla Bollhuset (Old Ball House) at various times, was the name of the first theater in Stockholm, Sweden; it was the first Swedish theater and the first real theater buildin ...

(1772) and designed furniture with

Georg Haupt Georg Haupt (10 August 1741, in Stockholm – 18 September 1784, in Stockholm) was a Swedish Ébéniste, cabinet maker. Haupt was the son of a Nuremberg carpenterFleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. '' ...

Although he is mostly remembered for his interior work, his building designs were also significant. Around 1760, he was hired by the industrialist,

Charles de Geer Baron Charles de Geer (the family is usually known as De Geer with a capitalized "De" and is pronounced "de yer"); Finspång in Risinge 30 January 1720 – Stockholm 7 March 1778) was a Swedish industrialist and entomologist. Life De Geer, w ...

, to design a library, aviary and two new wings for his home in

Lövstabruk Lövstabruk is a village on a common in the parish of Österlövsta, Tierp Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden. In 2010 it had a population of 96, compared to some 1300 at its height during the 18th century. The word ''lövsta'' is derived from ...

. He also made drawings for Stora Wäsby Castle and

Ljung Castle Ljung Castle is a castle in Sweden. The present building was erected in 1774. It was commissioned by Axel von Fersen the Elder and designed by Jean Eric Rehn. The building is well preserved and regarded a good example of the style of the Gustavian ...

, among others. He had resigned all of his official positions by 1789, but was still active as an engraver; visiting Rome to draw the ancient buildings there. His works are represented at the

Nationalmuseum Nationalmuseum (or National Museum of Fine Arts) is the national gallery of Sweden, located on the peninsula Blasieholmen in central Stockholm. The museum's operations stretches far beyond the borders of Blasieholmen, the nationalmuseum manag ...

and the

Gothenburg Museum of Art Gothenburg Museum of Art ( sv, Göteborgs konstmuseum) is located at Götaplatsen in Gothenburg, Sweden. It claims to be the third largest art museum in Sweden by size of its collection. Collections The museum holds the world's finest collect ...

Sources

Biography
@ the ''

Svenskt biografiskt lexikon ''Svenskt biografiskt lexikon'' () is a Swedish biographical dictionary, started in 1917. The first volume, covering names ''Abelin'' to ''Anjou'', was published in 1918. As of 2017, names from A to S are covered. Volumes # ABELIN – ANJOU (1 ...

External links

Works by Rehn
in the collection of the Nationalmuseum
Brief biography and works
@ the Gothenburg Museum {{DEFAULTSORT:Rehn, Jean Eric 1717 births 1793 deaths Swedish architects Swedish engravers Swedish designers Swedish interior designers Artists from Stockholm