23 Facts About Michael Dahl

Michael Dahl was one of the most internationally known Swedish painters of his time.

Michael Dahl painted portraits of many aristocrats and some members of royal families, such as Anne, Queen of Great Britain, Prince George of Denmark and the exiled Christina, Queen of Sweden.

Michael Dahl was born in Stockholm, in 1656 or 1659: most of the sources point to 1659.

At the age of at least 15 years, Michael Dahl had to decide where he was going to study art, though the only options in Sweden at the time were an apprenticeship in the Painters' Guild or joining the Martin Hannibal and David Klocker Ehrenstrahl group.

Michael Dahl received his first lessons in art in 1674 from the Hungarian-born drawing-master Martin Hannibal, who had been requested to come to Sweden from Italy by the prominent Swedish painter David Klocker Ehrenstrahl to aid him in the foundation of a portrait academy and to teach students and amateurs the first elements of painting.

The earliest trace of Michael Dahl's activity in England is a portrait of Samuel Clarke, which he copied from White's engraving the same year as it was made.

White helped Michael Dahl expand his network in London and he soon came in contact with the man who is probably responsible for the greatest impact on his development, Godfrey Kneller.

Michael Dahl's studio was factory-like compared with Ehrenstrahl's, which Dahl's biographer Wilhelm Nisser terms "Ehrenstrahl's monopoly of glorifying Swedish Royalty".

In Kneller's studio, Michael Dahl both studied and made a living and there he became acquainted with Henry Tilson.

Michael Dahl was considered one of the most promising painters of Lely's pupils.

Michael Dahl came in contact with the engraver Raimund Faltz and the Swedish soldier Carl Johan Konigsmarck, who had his portrait painted by Michael Dahl.

Michael Dahl still had a strong bond to Sweden and its people and was helpful when it came to assisting Swedish artists in the city.

Therefore, the first thing Michael Dahl did upon his arrival was to seek an audience with her.

Michael Dahl was able to get the audience, but Christina was only a link to the higher powers in the city, such as the Pope, so to get the assistance Dahl needed from Christina, Dahl had to convert to the Roman Catholic Church as she had done.

Michael Dahl was not the only artist Christina was able to convert.

David Richter the Elder who Michael Dahl had studied with at Ehrenstrahl's, was converted when he visited Rome a few years earlier, in 1679.

Michael Dahl had now been travelling for over five years, and his purse was getting thin.

Michael Dahl quickly became friends with the poet Christoffer Leijoncrona who was Secretary of the Swedish Legation.

For Michael Dahl, Leijoncrona was a very helpful ally when it came to keeping in touch with his native country.

Michael Dahl adapted to his new life and after three years in London he had transformed into a young London dandy, who paid his attentions to a certain Mlle.

Michael Dahl kept advancing in reputation, and in 1696 he painted the portrait of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset who found him to his liking even though the Duke was known for being a very despotic and difficult man to handle.

In 1705 Michael Dahl married a young English girl whose name has still not been recovered.

Michael Dahl had taken the request as somewhat a disgrace of his talent according to what Lord Egmont wrote in his diary about the incident:.