Johan Axel Gustav, "J.A.G." Acke

Along the southern long side of the City Hall extends the Prinsens Gallery (Prince’s Gallery).The hall is named after Prince Eugen, who executed the murals. Through seven tall windows in the southern facade, visitors have a grand view of Riddarfjärden and Södermalm. The room is divided along the long side by 15 double columns into a hall and a narrower "gallery" overlooking Borgargården. Around 1916, Prince Eugen received a commission from Ragnar Östberg to execute murals in the northern part of the gallery. This wall section is about 45 meters long and is divided by five tall windows. Between 1917 and 1923, the prince worked on the fresco paintings depicting various Stockholm scenes called "Stockholms stränder” (Stockholm’s shores) Another artist was engaged for the decoration of the Grand Gallery; Johan Axel Gustaf Acke. Entrusted by Ragnar Östberg in 1920, in a late stage, with the design of the gallery, he created stuccoes in the window niches facing south. Acke's works in the City Hall show a blend of figures from classical and Nordic mythology and include the decoration of 14 window niches and a smaller adjacent room, "Rundeln."
In October 1919, Acke and his wife Eva (née Topelius) traveled to Italy to study the technique and form of ancient stucco together with Prince Eugen as preparation for the decorations in the City Hall. "Acke is encouraged by our beloved painting prince Eugen to learn the genuine ancient stucco and fresco art with a technical professor. They work together for several weeks, and we have great joy and pleasure in the prince's company. I adore him!" (Exhibition catalog, Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde, JAG Acke, March 22 - May 26, 1991, p. 45). Upon their return, Acke immediately began a trial commission in one of the window niches in the City Hall, depicting a Falconer with a hunting falcon in her hands. The work gained approval, and Acke was authorized by Ragnar Östberg to proceed. After some financial discussions, Acke started in 1922. Over a fifteen-month period, the work on the City Hall stuccoes completely absorbed Acke.
The current study appears to be the only preserved study by Acke from his work on the decorations in Stockholm City Hall.