Information

The collections of the Ostrobothnian Museum in Vaasa, Finland contain a number of Dutch and Flemish paintings. They originate from Dr Karl Hedman´s private collection, which he and his wife Elin donated to the Hedman Foundation, established in 1931. Today, the Karl Hedman collection is owned by the museum. Karl Hedman (1864–1931) studied history and medicine before taking up a career as a doctor in Vaasa. Hedman was a prominent patron of the Ostrobothnian Museum: besides collecting antiquities, silver, ceramics and art, he worked hard to find new premises for the museum in his hometown of Vaasa. The Ostrobothnian Museum opened to the public in June 1930, with an entire upper floor devoted to the Karl Hedman collection. Netherlandish art was displayed alongside other treasures to illustrate the most important phases of European culture. Dr Hedman had acquired these artworks mainly in the period 1914–1926. The Dutch paintings include men’s portraits by Ludolph de Jongh and Dirk van Loonen. Jacob Gillig´s Still Life with Fish (1684) and Palamedesz Palamedes the Elder’s Cavalry Battle Scene (1630) formerly belonged to the collection of Paul Delaroff. Dr. Fred G. Meijer researched the museum’s Netherlandish paintings – some of which are copies by schools or followers – in 2005 and provided attributions. Besides paintings, the collection also includes a Dutch nautilus cup (c. 1650) with an engraving after Rembrandt.

Dr. Auli Jämsänen, Head of Collections (February 2024)

Collection catalogues

The Ostrobothnian Museum
Vaasa 2004