Thora Thersner
Thora Johanna Ulrika Thersner was a Swedish graphic artist and illustrator who was known for contributing half of the illustrations of the Fordna och närvarande Sverige topographical volumes, which her father began.
Early life
Thora Johanna Ulrika Thersner was born in Stockholm on 24 December 1818 to Anna Gustafva Wechmann and the Finnish artist Lieutenant-Colonel. She had two sisters: Anna Hilda Antigon and Edmea Mildehjert Arurora.She received private art lessons as a young child after she showed an aptitude for art, and mainly focused on drawing figures.
Career
Thersner's father died when she was ten years old. At the time of his death, he was working on a comprehensive volume of topographical illustrations of Swedish landscapes as well as old and modern Swedish buildings. He had only completed the volumes on Östergötland and Scania provinces. His work on Uppland and Södermanland had been begun before his death but was completed by others. After his death, Major Anckarsvärd assumed responsibility for the late Thersner's work on behalf of his estate.In 1843, the Major suggested that Thora should continue her father's work, despite her lack of experience drawing landscapes. She found her first attempt at landscape drawing on paper more successful than anticipated, so she decided to undertake work on the volumes herself, under Anckarsvärd supervision. Apart from Södermanland and Uppland, which were worked on by others, she drew the remaining provinces. However in 1845, she became solely responsible for its completion, and after her mother's death, the volumes were her only source of income. Thersner travelled throughout Sweden to create illustrations based on her surroundings for the volumes and continued working on them for the remainder of her life. She received a small government grant to work on the volumes. She was also included in the Konstakademien exhibition in 1836, with a number of her illustrations.