Gezicht op slot Ållonö, vanuit het noorden en oosten - Erik Jönssen Dahlberg

A detailed seventeenth-century architectural engraving of Ållonö Castle from the 'Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna' collection by Erik Jönssen Dahlberg.

This print originates from the monumental work 'Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna', a comprehensive survey of Swedish architecture and topography commissioned by the Swedish Crown. Erik Jönssen Dahlberg, a military engineer and architect, directed this project to document the grandeur of the Swedish Empire during the seventeenth century. The work displays two distinct perspectives of Ållonö Castle, a manor house located in Östergötland, Sweden.

The upper register presents a northern elevation, capturing the symmetrical facade of the manor house as it sits behind a stone terrace. The lower register provides an eastern view, focusing on the relationship between the architecture and the surrounding water. Dahlberg employs precise line work to delineate the structural details of the building, including the mansard roofs and the balustraded terraces. The inclusion of small sailing vessels in the foreground adds a sense of scale and activity to the scene, typical of the topographical style of the period.

As a military engineer, Dahlberg brought a disciplined approach to his draughtsmanship. The composition relies on clear perspective and clean lines to convey the physical reality of the site. The print serves as a record of Swedish aristocratic life and the architectural ambitions of the era. The paper shows signs of age, including foxing and discolouration, which are common in original seventeenth-century engravings. This print is a valuable example of the cartographic and architectural documentation that defined the visual culture of the Swedish Baroque. It provides a clear view of the manor as it appeared before subsequent modifications, making it a primary source for architectural historians and those interested in the history of Swedish estates.