Pekka Halonen (1865 - 1933) is one of our most important national romantic painters. He studied in Helsinki at the Art Society's Drawing School for four years and graduated with good grades winning a scholarship to study abroad. He went in 1890 to Paris, where he first studied at the Academy Julian and later under Paul Gauguin.
In 1895 Pekka Halonen married a young music student, Maija Mäkinen and they got 8 children. In the beginning of their marriage, the couple lived in several places before settling down in a house with a studio on Lake Tuusula in 1895. Here the Halonen family lived in an imposing pinewood villa known as ‘Halosenniemi’. Halosenniemi was designed by Pekka Halonen himself and his brother and was completed in 1902.
The building is now a museum that includes original furnishings and Halonen’s own art. On the shores of the lake where he resided an artists’ community flourished, helping to develop a sense of Finnish national identity. In addition to Halonen the artists' community's members were composer Jean Sibelius, writer Juhani Aho, poet J. H. Erkko and painters Eero Järnefelt and Venny Soldan-Brofeldt.
The view through the big atelier window is fascinating and it was an important source of inspiration for his art. In Tuusula Halonen had a wide circle of artist friends and relatives which provided him with a daily source of social and cultural stimulation.
I write here only shortly because at Alternative Finland you'll find many great photos of his paintings and his curriculum in English. It's worth while looking!
The fifth photo that I'm sharing is my salute to the fabulous September 2016!
Wishing you a good start for October!
Linking with
Thank you for sharing the story of this very talented artist. The home he lived is looks fascinating. And, I love your collage of September; beautiful flowers. Wishing you the best, Pat xx
VastaaPoistaThanks for the interesting post about an for me unknown painter.
VastaaPoistaYour september mosaic is marvellous.
Enjoy the autum time
Wonderful post Ritta. The artwork is lovely and so is your salute to September.
VastaaPoistaI love the villa. It must have been a very inspiring place.
VastaaPoistaWhat a wonderful place to live. I especially like the huge window letting in so much light, the perfect place for an Artist. September was a beautiful month indeed. Have a good weekend Riitta.
VastaaPoistaI am so loving your Finnish artists Riitta. That studio window looks fabulous looking out onto an icy world. My paint monthly will go up tomorrow if you would like to add your link. Hopefully a few more people will join us in October. :) B xx
VastaaPoistaWhat a talented artist. The big atelier window offers breathtaking views it is no surprise it was such an inspiration.
VastaaPoistaAngela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me
Thanks for sharing the story of this artist. That building looks fantastic. Glad they turned it into a museum where everyone could learn about him and his family.
VastaaPoistaHave a happy Five on Friday!
Thank you all for your lovely comments!
PoistaI visited Halosenniemi last summer and the pine building was really impressive. To think that it is over 100 years old, it was in such a good condition. The house stands very near to the Lake Tuusula and there is a separate sauna building on the shore. Our guide was excellent, I enjoyed the visit very much.
I envy talented people that can paint.
VastaaPoistaThanks for your beautiful post, Riitta. His art is interesting and the window and the view from it are inspiring! Your September photo mosaic is lovely, and I wish you a happy October, too.
VastaaPoistaThank you for introducing me to a new artist and I like your salute to September.
VastaaPoistaIt must have been stimulating being part of an artistic community or having family members who were so creative and the surrounding countryside an inspiration to them. The villa and studio is beautiful and interesting.Your mosaic celebrating September is beautiful. We have yet to see those wonderful autumnal colours in nature here, but there are some signs of things to come in the leaves of the horse chestnut and beech trees.
VastaaPoista