Enfilade

From the Society of Antiquaries:

Jussi Nuorteva | A Swedish-Finnish Antiquarian and Military Officer in England
Online (via YouTube), Society of Antiquaries of London, 14 October 2024, 1.30pm

August Philip Armfelt, ca. 1830 (Wiurila Manor, Halikko, Finland).

Discover the life of Baron August Philip Armfelt (1768–1839), Aide-de-Camp of the Swedish King Gustaf, and hear about his adventures during a trip to England in 1790–1791.

Free poster display on the ground floor of the Society’s Burlington House premises, 10am–4pm each day:
Tuesday, 15 October
Wednesday, 16 October
Thursday, 17 October
Friday, 18 October

During this period, the connection between Sweden and France had been close, but those ties were broken in the French Revolution of 1789. Afterward, new connections arose between Britain and Sweden. Britain was concerned about the rising power of Russia in the Baltic Sea area, crucial for import of tar and iron—essential materials in shipbuilding. Sweden, where Finland had been part of since 12th century, was the most important producer of these goods. Thus, new relations were formed.

While in England, August Philip Armfelt met many interesting people, not only the royals. His autobiography, around which the exhibition is built, tells of his various meetings and conversations with many other areas of the society. Armfelt met people like Goodfellow, the Swedish artist Elias Martin (one of the early academicians of the Royal Academy of Arts), and abolitionists like John Wedgwood and Swedish Carl Bernhard Wadenström. Sadly, Armfelt’s travels lasted only until 1792, when Swedish King Gustaf III was murdered by his opponents and a block of noble men took the power.

Live-streamed and open to anyone to join online, the lecture forms part of a series of events organised by the Embassy of Sweden in London and the Embassy of Finland in London, with the support of Samfundet Ehrensvärd, Medical Counsellor Sakari Alhopuro, Stiftelsen Tre Smeder and the Kalevi Kuitusen Foundation.

The YouTube link is available here»

Jussi Nuorteva was National Archivist of Finland until his retirement in 2022. He is a member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, as well as Chancellor of the Orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland.