JOHAN NIKLAS

BYSTROM (1783–1848)  , Swedish sculptor, was born on the 18th of December 1783 at Philipstad . At the age of twenty he went to Stockholm and studied for three years under Sergel . In 1809 he gained the academy prize, and in the following year visited Rome . He sent home a beautiful work, " The Reclining Bacchante," in half life size, which raised him at once to the first rank among Swedish sculptors . On his return to Stockholm in 1816 he presented the crown prince with a colossal statue of himself, and was entrusted with several important works . Although he was appointed professor of sculpture at the academy, he soon returned to Italy, and with the exception of the years from 1838 to 1844 continued to reside there . He died at Rome in 1848 . Among Bystrom's numerous productions the best are his representations of the female form, such as " Hebe," "Pandora," " Juno suckling Hercules," and the " Girl entering the Bath." His colossal statues of the Swedish kings are also much admired .