page_title: Carl Wahlbom
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: Carl Wahlbom / Biography
caption_attribution_description: Svenska: »Han uppsteg; vid talarn han kapprak sig ställde . ..» Från Carl Wahlboms illustrationer till Lings »Asarne». Den här återgivna raderingen illustrerar »Dumbers tvist med Storkvid, under jättarnas rådplägning vid valet till anförare»; den ingår i »Teckningar ur Asarne componerade och etsade af C. Wahlbom» 1833-1836 http://libris.kb.se/bib/3151576
context_page_description: Johan Wilhelm Carl Wahlbom was a Swedish painter, illustrator and sculptor.
context_section_description: His father, Adolf, was a pastor and professor and his grandfather, Johan Gustaf Wahlbom, was a noted doctor and scientist who studied with Carl Linnaeus. In 1824, at the age of fourteen, he became a Cadet at the Military Academy Karlberg. While there, his primary interests were gymnastics and fencing. The methods of Per Henrik Ling, a pioneer of physical education, had a great influence on his personal development. In his letters, he also expressed interest in literary and artistic endeavors and made illustrations for a student publication called Kornblixten (heat lightning). 
  After his father died in 1828, he was forced to find employment as a teacher at the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute, which provided housing. It was there that he first met Ling. He was also exposed to the drawings of Fredric Westin, with whom he began to study that same year. In 1829, after leaving military service, he was able to enroll at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. During this time, he also received support from Fredrik Boije, the publisher of an artistic journal. Boije also taught him etching. He later produced lithographs, including a series of twenty-four historical scenes with text by Karl August Nicander. He also did illustrations for Fritiof by Esaias Tegnér. His preoccupation with graphic work made Westin remark that he was not developing a good sense of color. In response, he focused on watercolor techniques.
  Despite Boije's support and living with Westin, he found himself in financial difficulties and had to quit the Royal Academy in 1833. After that, he supported himself with his illustrations and occasional work as a gym teacher, although he did take some time to study anatomy with Anders Retzius. In 1838, he was a candidate for a major scholarship, but it was awarded to Per Wickenberg. Instead, a group of friends joined together and raised 700 riksdaler. With recommendations from Ling and the Academy's art director,  Johan Gustaf Sandberg, he was able to go on a study trip to Paris. Once there, he moved into the Hôtel de Beauvais, where he shared an apartment with Fritz von Dardel. He soon sent home several sculptures, but they found no buyers. In addition to drawing and modeling, he studied xylography.
caption: Illustration for Asarne by Per Hendrik Ling, with Storkvid (center), the father of Starkad
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