Explore the Thiel Gallery on Djurgården, where masterpieces by Nordic artists like Zorn, Larsson, and Munch fill a striking Art Nouveau villa. Surrounded by gardens and sea views, this museum blends early 20th-century art, architecture, and tranquility into one of Stockholm’s hidden cultural gems.
Thiel Art Gallery: Nordic Masterpieces
Nestled in the tranquil eastern end of Djurgården, the Thiel Art Gallery (Thielska Galleriet) is a hidden gem where visitors encounter Nordic art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Housed in a striking Art Nouveau villa designed by architect Ferdinand Boberg, the museum preserves the extensive collection of banker and art patron Ernest Thiel.
Ernest Thiel (1859–1947) was a Swedish financier who transformed his passion for contemporary Nordic art into one of the country’s most significant private collections. In the early 1900s, he commissioned this elegant villa on Djurgården to house his growing assemblage. Financial challenges eventually led him to sell the property and artworks to the Swedish state, and in 1926 the gallery opened to the public, preserving his legacy as a patron of the arts.
🖌️Masters of Nordic Art
At the heart of the gallery are works by some of the greatest Nordic artists of their time. Visitors encounter Edvard Munch’s emotional intensity, Anders Zorn’s masterful portraits, Carl Larsson’s idyllic scenes of Swedish life, and Bruno Liljefors’ dramatic depictions of nature. The collection also features Eugène Jansson’s bold cityscapes and even paintings by the playwright August Strindberg. Together, these masterpieces create an intimate journey through Nordic creativity at the turn of the 20th century.
Perched at Blockhusudden—the serene eastern cape of Djurgården—the Thiel Gallery offers both art and nature in harmony. The surrounding sculpture garden invites quiet reflection, while views of ferries passing through the archipelago add to the charm. Architect Ferdinand Boberg designed the villa in 1907, blending Art Nouveau elegance with natural surroundings to create a cultural retreat away from the bustle of the city.
Visiting the Thiel Gallery is more than viewing art—it’s a retreat into harmony between culture and nature. The villa’s intimate rooms, filled with Nordic masterpieces, flow seamlessly into a peaceful sculpture garden overlooking the archipelago. Few museums in Stockholm offer such a balance of world-class art and serene surroundings, making it an inspiring stop year-round.
