Charles Friberg secured the commission to create this equestrian sculpture of King Karl XV. The monarch sits upon a granite base that features the royal cypher along with the motto stating the land shall be built by law.
The king wears the parade uniform of the Husarregementet Konung Karl XV, which includes the Dolman m/1870 and the Käppi m/1858. With the horse outfitted with a schabrak and the king wearing the ribbon of the Serafimerorden over his right shoulder, the sculpture invites us to look back at the 1860s. During that period, the king traditionally led a cortege around Djurgården to open the summer season.
On 3 May 1909, a major ceremony occurred to unveil the work on the king's birthday. King Gustaf V and other members of the Swedish royal house, including King Fredrik VIII and Queen Louise of Denmark, attended the event. The atmosphere was defined by 21 shots from Galärvarvet and Swedish national songs from a choir. Following the celebration, the king knighted Friberg for his artistic contribution.
We can still find the statue today on Djurgårdsvägen. It serves as a constant presence in the park for everyone to observe. Each detail invites further inquiry into the history of the Swedish monarchy.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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