Urban Larsson at The Brigham Galleries on Nantucket

Urban Larsson

Urban Larsson is a traditional painter. For the last 10 years he has lived and worked in Amsterdam. Larsson, born in 1966 in Stockholm, is a prolific painter who not only paints portraits, but also still-lives, landscapes and nudes.

He studied History of Art at the University of Stockholm (1986 – 1987 and fall, 1987) and at the Stockholm School of Architecture (1988 - 1989). Larsson then moved to Florence, Italy, to study at Studio Cecil & Graves (January – June, 1988 and September, 1989 – June, 1991), the only atelier in Europe where traditional realism was taught. He spent nearly three years there, studying the techniques and the methods of the Old Masters. After his studies in Florence, he moved to Amsterdam to settle as a painter.

Since 1989, he has undertaken several portrait commissions in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, England, France, Denmark and the U. S. A. His portraits are painted only from life through sittings and show psychological insights and accurate characterisation. His studio catches light from the north and is a much-frequented spot for people looking for classical but non-photographic portraiture. Through his working methods Larsson is directly linked to the great portrait painters and studios of the 19th century and he prepares his materials and paint using the time-tested techniques of previous centuries. He regularly paints abroad and his international commissions have come from England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and the United States. His many sitters have included; the President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Professor Drenth; the former Mayor of Wassenaar, drs P. H. Schoute; the Bishop of Haarlem, mgr Horstman; the former Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, the Hon. Count A. Pietromarch, Willem Stevens (Baker & McKenzie), and Wim Meyer of the Rabobank. In 2002, he was commissioned to paint the official portrait of the Dutch ex Prime Minister Wim Kok.

A connoisseur once remarked about his still-lifes: “Urban is able to express the silence of observation, the intimacy of an object, in short, the sensation of seeing”. His still-lives have been regularly exhibited in the Netherlands and some are part of private collections in Europe and the United States. They usually depict pots, fruit, glasses of wine, etc., but his style is to place such everyday objects in a strongly contrasting light which gives the pictures great atmosphere and expression.

Urban Larsson studied for 3 years in Florence, Italy at Studio Cecil & Graves - the only studio in Europe that taught the traditional art of oil-painting. Every spring he returned to Tuscany for 1½ - 2 months where he has concentrated on plein-air landscape painting. Through painting in the open fields he tries to catch the mood and the character of a landscape.

He paints directly from nature with additional guidance through dialogue with artists of particular traditions and creates works with strong personal character.

Click here for full resume

Urban Larsson Urban Larsson is a traditional painter. For the last 10 years he has lived and worked in Amsterdam. Larsson, born in 1966 in Stockholm, is a prolific painter who not only paints portraits, but also still-lives, landscapes and nudes. He studied History of Art at the University of Stockholm (1986 – 1987 and fall, 1987) and at the Stockholm School of Architecture (1988 - 1989). Larsson then moved to Florence, Italy, to study at Studio Cecil & Graves (January – June, 1988 and September, 1989 – June, 1991), the only atelier in Europe where traditional realism was taught. He spent nearly three years there, studying the techniques and the methods of the Old Masters. After his studies in Florence, he moved to Amsterdam to settle as a painter. Since 1989, he has undertaken several portrait commissions in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, England, France, Denmark and the U. S. A. His portraits are painted only from life through sittings and show psychological insights and accurate characterisation. His studio catches light from the north and is a much-frequented spot for people looking for classical but non-photographic portraiture. Through his working methods Larsson is directly linked to the great portrait painters and studios of the 19th century and he prepares his materials and paint using the time-tested techniques of previous centuries. He regularly paints abroad and his international commissions have come from England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and the United States. His many sitters have included; the President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Professor Drenth; the former Mayor of Wassenaar, drs P. H. Schoute; the Bishop of Haarlem, mgr Horstman; the former Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, the Hon. Count A. Pietromarch, Willem Stevens (Baker & McKenzie), and Wim Meyer of the Rabobank. In 2002, he was commissioned to paint the official portrait of the Dutch ex Prime Minister Wim Kok. A connoisseur once remarked about his still-lifes: “Urban is able to express the silence of observation, the intimacy of an object, in short, the sensation of seeing”. His still-lives have been regularly exhibited in the Netherlands and some are part of private collections in Europe and the United States. They usually depict pots, fruit, glasses of wine, etc., but his style is to place such everyday objects in a strongly contrasting light which gives the pictures great atmosphere and expression. Urban Larsson studied for 3 years in Florence, Italy at Studio Cecil & Graves - the only studio in Europe that taught the traditional art of oil-painting. Every spring he returned to Tuscany for 1½ - 2 months where he has concentrated on plein-air landscape painting. Through painting in the open fields he tries to catch the mood and the character of a landscape. He paints directly from nature with additional guidance through dialogue with artists of particular traditions and creates works with strong personal character. Click here for full resume