The Tessin Institute's art collection bears witness to the cultural and political ties between Sweden and France from the 17th century to the present day. It includes works by artists such as Alexander Roslin, Louis-Jean Desprez, Jacques-Philippe Bouchardon, Julia Beck, and Olle Baertling. The collection is administrated by the Nationalmuseum, and parts of it are displayed at the Swedish Institute in Paris.
The Tessin Institute (Institut Tessin) was founded in 1933 on the initiative of art historian and cultural attaché at the Swedish Embassy in Paris, Gunnar W. Lundberg (1903–1986), and his wife Monne. It was named after Carl Gustaf Tessin (1695–1770), Swedish politician, diplomat, and art collector. Tessin’s central role as a mediator of Franco-Swedish cultural exchange during the 18th century made him the perfect symbol for the institute, whose mission was to highlight Franco-Swedish cultural relations throughout history.
At the heart of the institute was Gunnar Lundberg’s art collection, which comprises more than 6,000 items: paintings, works on paper (watercolors, drawings, and prints), sculptures, medals, and rare books. While the main focus is on the 18th century, the collection also includes works by 20th-century Swedish artists connected to France.
Originally, the collections were housed at the Swedish Embassy, but in 1963 Lundberg donated the Tessin Institute and its collections to the Swedish state. He also convinced the Swedish government to purchase the beautiful Renaissance palace Hôtel de Marle in the Marais district. The collections thus received a setting worthy of their importance. In 1971, the Swedish Institute (then called Centre culturel suédois) was able to move into the Hôtel de Marle.
Since then, the Tessin Institute’s collection [ändra även på den svenska] has been an integral part of the Swedish Institute in Paris. The art has been administrated by the Nationalmuseum since 1982, and part of it is permanently exhibited in the Tessin Room at the Hôtel de Marle. Among the highlights is Roslin’s famous portrait of Suzanne Giroust, a pastel painter and the artist’s wife.
Marie Suzanne Giroust, 1734–1772, artist, married to Alexander Roslin, painted by Alexander Roslin. Signed 1770. Oil on canvas.
Georg Arsenius, (1855–1908), artist, painted by Julia Beck. Oil on mahogany.
In parallel with the art collection, Gunnar W. Lundberg also developed an art historical library. Many of the books have been donated to the University Library in Umeå and to the Nordic Library in Paris. Rare books related to Swedish history remain at the Hôtel de Marle.
New hanging and temporary exhibition
During 2024–2025, a research project aimed to shed new light on the Tessin Institute’s collections. The project results in a new permanent hanging and a temporary exhibition at the Swedish Institute in Paris, opening in May 2025.
The project has been made possible thanks to generous support from the Björn and Inger Savén Foundation and the Jacob Wallenberg Foundation.