Jean Eric Rehn (18 May 1717,

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

- 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 the traditionally Sámi languages, Sámi-speaking indigenous people inhabiting the region of Sápmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and of the Kola Peninsula ...

. 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 type ...

, with the help of a government grant. There, he worked in the studios of Jacques-Philippe Le Bas, creating hunting scenes. In 1745 the architect,

Carl Hårleman Baron Carl Hårleman (27 August 1700 – 9 February 1753) was a Sweden, 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 Ennoblemen ...

, 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 King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what he saw ...

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, 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. Later, in 1779, he oversaw the changes at

Gripsholm Castle Gripsholm Castle () 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 I Vasa, Gripsholm has belonged ...

and

Stockholm Palace Stockholm Palace, or the Royal Palace, ( 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 Palace is in Stadsholm ...

, 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. 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 Charles De Geer (30 January 1720 – 7 March 1778) was an entomology, entomologist, industrialist, civil servant and book collecting, book collector. He is sometimes referred to as Charles the Entomologist, to distinguish him from other relati ...

, 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 fro ...

. He also made drawings for Stora Wäsby Castle and Ljung Castle, 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 is the List of national galleries, national gallery of fine arts of Sweden, located on the peninsula Blasieholmen in central Stockholm. The museum's operations stretch far beyond the borders of Blasieholmen, including the Natio ...

and the Gothenburg Museum of Art.

Sources

Biography
@ the '' Svenskt biografiskt lexikon''

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 18th-century Swedish architects 18th-century Swedish engravers Swedish designers Swedish interior designers Artists from Stockholm