Petra Lehtoruusu

Serlachiuksen taidekokoelman takana on kiehtova tarina, jossa kietoutuvat yhteen taide, historia, arkkitehtuuri, metsä ja suomalaisuus. Kirja kertoo Serlachiuksista taide-elämän tukijoina, paperiyhtiön johdossa ja mänttäläisen ihanneyhteiskunnan rakentajina. Mäntän patruunat ja heidän perustamansa metsäteollisuusyhteisön asukkaat rakensivat pienestä kotikaupungistaan valtakunnallisen ja kansainvälisen keskuksen, jolla on vahva paperin ja taiteen luoma identiteetti. Mesenaatteina Serlachiukset tukivat taiteilijoita ja perustivat Mänttään ainutlaatuisen taidekokoelman. Kirja avaa mesenoinnin historiaa myös yleisemmin, Mediceistä Rockefellereihin.Mäntän ensimmäinen patruuna G. A. Serlachius löysi 1800-luvun lopulla nuoren Akseli Gallen-Kallelan ja Emil Wikströmin tukien heitä rahallisesti ja tilausteoksilla. Gösta Serlachius jatkoi suomalaisten taiteilijoiden tukemista ja perusti 1933 taidesäätiön kasvavan taidekokoelmansa turvaksi. R. Erik Serlachius ja Gustaf Serlachius jatkoivat taidesäätiön kehittämistä. Kirjan tarina laajentuu taiteen tukemisesta Mäntän kehittymiseen. Mäntästä muodostui Serlachius-yhtiön myötä vauras pieni teollisuusyhteisö, jota esiteltiin 1950-1960-luvuilla suomalaisena ihanneyhteisönä ja johon kävivät tutustumassa niin kotimaiset kuin ulkomaisetkin arvovieraat.

The history of the Serlachius art collection is an intriguing story that weaves together art, history, architecture, forestry, and Finnish identity. This book celebrates the enduring contribution made by the Serlachius family as patrons of the arts, leaders of a paper conglomerate, and builders of an ideal community. The patrons of Mänttä and the residents of its mill community transformed their small hometown into an internationally noted cultural destination with an identity strongly linked to papermaking and art. The Serlachius family supported many artists and assembled a unique art collection in Mänttä. This book also takes a wider look at the history of patronage from the Medici to the Rockefellers.Mänttä's first patron, G.A. Serlachius, discovered the young Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Emil Wikström in the late 19th century. The industrialist supported them financially and personally commissioned numerous artworks for his collection. His patronage was carried on by Gösta Serlachius, who in 1933 established a foundation to manage the family's growing art collection. The foundation's work was later continued by Gösta's successors, R. Erik Serlachius and Gustaf Serlachius. From the theme of patronage, the book expands its focus to take a wider look at the history of Mänttä, a former backwater which the Serlachius enterprise transformed into a prosperous industrial town. In the 1950s and 1960s, Mänttä was presented to Finnish visitors and foreign dignitaries as the ideal Finnish community.

The Ateneum Art Museum's new Albert Edelfelt exhibition catalogue presents the artist's production and activities, underlining the importance of his broad international circle of friends. Edelfelt, who travelled and painted in various parts of Europe, was a public favourite, seen in his day as the golden boy of Finnish art. He was an authority who spread the teachings of the so-called French school among Finnish artists. Edelfelt's art continues to fascinate. International interest has been spurred by the Edelfelt exhibition produced by the Ateneum Art Museum with the Petit Palais in Paris and the Gothenburg Museum of Art (2022-23).The abundance of research related to Edelfelt's art reflects his pivotal role in the history of Finnish art. This research has particularly flourished in the twenty-first century, as evidenced by this lavishly illustrated volume. The authors represent the cutting edge of current Edelfelt research: Marina Catani, Anne-Charlotte Cathelineau, Laura Gutman, Rainer Knapas, Anna Kortelainen, Petra Lehtoruusu, Marie-Sofie Lundström, Anne-Maria Pennonen, Kristina Ranki, Anna Ripatti, Hanne Selkokari, Patrik Steorn, Maria Vainio-Kurtakko and Leena Elina Valkeapää.