swedish sacrifice painting created hall central staircase stockholm swedish painter sweden debated painting painting depicts legend norse mythology swedish king sacrificed order famine long controversy rejected museum debate resurfaced late 20th century finally honoured place intended background commissioned walls central staircase museum wanted wall intended wall present contrast illustrations staircase painting enters stockholm presented theme triumphant king wanted illustration theme king sacrificed people evolution work version earliest known sketch located museum dated time shortly visit copenhagen july started paint large version finished january preserved photograph based early sketch presents richer set figures foreground early version display receiving official comments formal order official contest declared initiative anonymous writer calling archaeologist voiced harsh criticism february writer stated painting combined freely anonymous writer called temple summer restaurant decorated motives biological museum stockholm considered dresses painting swedish farm walking second version criticism artistic freedom giving personal interpretation distant historic event directed historic paintings 19th century criticism vein following years happily delegate task younger talent second version oil temple wider added centre sets characters closely assembled like quality enhanced version major changes introduced painting autumn version given text dream vision king sacrificed people text possibly added hope considered attempt historically faithful reconstruction essential change consisted monumental composition temple enlarged considerably given stern shape figures closely assembled formed relief like row sketch exhibition museum november letter director museum offered painting swedish version criticised museum board time present view august expressed enthusiasm painting reacted choice subject like critics choice subject aggravated way presented felt painting unbelievable relevant modern early 20th century january museum board presented ambivalent view painting majority board motion finish museum wall added reservation main scene sacrifice king excluded director museum objected board ruling declared painting illustrate ritual killing wall remain received ruling board confirmation museum accepted painting declared suggested changes accept suggestion painting installed stockholm city hall instead good friend joined critics sway determination probably took criticism hardest archaeologist probably identical anonymous writer initiated criticism launched additional criticism lack historical authenticity painting distance dating objects painting given years thought painting unacceptable museum building stated intentionally included objects distant past relation setting painting imagined subjects kept ancient items ritual objects march wrote letter minister religious affairs declared resigned task illustrating museum wall final versions rejection resumed work painting initiative presented painted sketch largely consistent previous painting king remade based oil painting male model named king position composed expressive agreed change emphasis taken place evolution work decision sacrifice voluntary new figure wizard added left lion guardians entry temple received noticeably chinese character colours forceful considerable amounts gold intended common notion pre history gray final decision board knew minister religious affairs favourable new painting majority board including director successor favour instead board asked different painting answer initially declared press considered greatest beautiful works minister asked expert advice debate continued newspapers suspicions political animosity suspicions convincingly later duke personal letter book published claims immediate natural explanation ultimate rejection painting fact time rendered painting long debate painting survivor time past meet modernist ideals new century final version exhibited intended june following year shown art gallery exhibit dedicated tentatively shown period painting stored according book controversy concerned personal prestige ideals stood contemporaries turn indifferent ideals events years declared autobiography controversy broke admitted anger clear began identify work possible identified sacrificed king primarily saw bad intentions opposition identification apparent self portrait presented king donated parish lived later controversy eventual acceptance painting exhibited stockholm exhibit art dealer offered donate sell painting board rejected offer statement motif appropriate time shared building moved building painting moved rejection painting sold swedish art collector offered sell million swedish offer caused controversy people debated painting belonged debate directions people claimed painting masterpiece swedish art work suspect morality sold london japanese art collector celebrated anniversary dedicated exhibit japanese owner lent painting museum visitors late 20th century work time hall intended general opinion changed bought painting collector ordered frame stretching canvas carpenter installed permanently intended painting mentioned book blood plays important role
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