ABOUT THE STATUE:
The bronze statue depicts Karl III in royal dress, with pantaloons, tights, and a thigh-length coat buttoned all the way down. He is wearing a long, draping, floor-length cape over his coat. He has his right hand on the top of an anchor, and the anchor is resting on the ground. His left arm is bent at the elbow and his left hand rests on his waist. The statue stands atop a rectangular stone plinth. "The Neoclassicist composition of Gustaf Göthe (1779–1838), inaugurated in 1821, is escorted by four lions sculpted by Bengt Erland Fogelberg (1786–1854), added in 1824, and each of which are holding a ball carrying the Norwegian and Swedish coat of arms alluding the Swedish-Norwegian Union initiated by the king. The anchor under the king's right arm reminds us of his great naval victories during the Russo-Swedish War 1788-1790." --Wikipedia (
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A historical marker by the statue provides the following history about the statue in Swedish:
"Karl XIII
Statyn föreställer Karl XIII (1748-1818). Karl var bror till Gustav III och farbror till Gustav IV Adolf, som han efterträdde sedan denne avsatts 1809.
Statyn är utförd av Erik Gustav Göthe (1779-1838) i den nyantika stil som var hans främsta uttrycksmedel som skulptör. Monumentet tillkom på uppdrag av Karl XIV Johan, Karl XIII:s adoptivson och eftertrådare och avtåcktes den 5 november 1821 på årsdagen av Karl Johans adoption.
De fyra lejon som omger statyn är skapade av Bengt Erland Fogelberg (1786-1854) och sattes upp 1824. Vardera lejonet håller med en tass ett klot som bär Sveriges respektive Norges vapen, eftersom Karl XIII regerade over båda länderna från 1814.
Konungen vilar högra armen mot ett ankare vilket syftar på hans sjömilitära forflutna. Redan i dopet blev han förklarad för Sveriges storamiral och deltog som flottans högste befälhavare i slagen vid Hogland 1788, Öland 1789 och i Viborgska viken 1790.
Statyn förvaltas av Statens fastighetsverk."
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
Karl XIII
The statue depicts Karl XIII (1748-1818). Karl was the brother of Gustav III and uncle of Gustav IV, whom he succeeded after he was deposed in 1809.
The statue is the work of Erik Gustav Göthe (1779-1838) in the nyantika style that was his main means of expression as a sculptor. The monument was established on behalf of Karl XIV Johan, Charles XIII's adopted son and successor, and was unveiled on November 5, 1821 on the anniversary of Karl Johan's adoption.
The four lions surrounding the statue were created by Bengt Erland Fogelberg (1786-1854) and were set up in 1824. Each lion's paw bears a ball from Sweden and Norway weapons, since Karl XIII ruled both countries from 1814.
King rests his right arm against an anchor which refers to his naval past. Already in baptism, he declared as Sweden's fleet admiral and participated as a fleet commander in the battles of Hogland 1788, Oland in 1789 and in Vyborg Bay 1790.
The statue is managed by the National Property Board.
ABOUT THE MAN:
"Charles XIII & II also Carl, Swedish: Karl XIII (Stockholm, 7 October 1748 – Stockholm, 5 February 1818), was King of Sweden (as Charles XIII) from 1809 and King of Norway (as Charles II) from 1814 until his death. He was the second son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, sister of Frederick II of Prussia.
Though known as King Charles XIII in Sweden, he was actually the seventh Swedish king by that name, as Charles IX (reigned 1604–1611) had adopted his numeral after studying a fictitious history of Sweden."
--Wikipedia (
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