Mark Schuler: Father Jon Sveinsson

Artist: Mark Schuler
1951 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 10.375 by 10.875 inches
Overall Size: 15 by 17 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

Iceland, the North Atlantic island country of sparkling glaciers, high-peaked mountain ranges and active volcanoes, boasts a civilization that for hundreds of years has been interested in the arts and strongly supported its writers. Today, the Icelandic Sagas are still regarded among the finest literary achievements of the Middle Ages. Perhaps it was because of this strong national love of literature that Father Jon Sveinsson, born on November 16, 1857, in Madruvellin, Iceland, became interested in writing. As a boy he was sent to school in Denmark, but later found himself in France, where he graduated from a Jesuit college in 1878. From there he went to Belgium, then later to England where he was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1891. He returned to Reykjavik Iceland, where he built a leper hospital and increased his interest in writing. During the course of his literary career he published eight autobiographical books featuring the character "Nonni," and became world famous for his children's books. He wrote most of them in German, but eventually they were translated into almost 30 languages. During World War I this prolific writer was first stationed in Holland, then went on to serve French prisoners of war in Austria. Later, he was seized and interned in Cologne, Germany, where he died on November 1, 1944. But Father Sveinsson's loving memories of Iceland and the delightful tales he spun for the children of the world live on in his collected works, which are still popular with young readers.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Iceland Europa stamp featured in the 1980 Portraits of Greatness collection.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06682

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