The Schantz house Photo

Photographer’s Note

These two buildings covered with red and yellow plaster respectively are called the Schantz house (Schantzska huset). The two building merged in the 17th century. The Schantz house is situated in Stortorget (the Large Square) in the Old Town of Stockholm and the address is 18-20, Stortorget. The buildings are name after Johan Eberhard Schantz who built them in 1650 in German-Dutch renaissance style. Schantz was the secretary of the king Charles X Gustavus. Part of the interior still reflects the luxury life of a royal secretary in those days. The white stones (there are 82 of them) on the façade of the red house is said to symbolize the heads decapitated by the Danish king – Christian II in 1520. This event took place in Stortorget after an invasion of Sweden by Danish forces under the command of Christian II. It is known as the Stockholm Blood bath or the Stockholm massacre. Around 80-90 people of the nobility and clergy supporting the Sture party were executed. In Sweden Christian II is also known as Christan the Tyrant.

PaulVDV, saxo042, leonorkuhn, Jakab, pablominto, westcoastgirl1 has marked this note useful

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PaulVDV (5449) 2009-09-09 12:10

Hello Ulf,
Very beautiful architecture picture: both façades in the same style but different in shape and colour and with a nice blue sky as background.
The architectural details on the red façade are wonderful.
Best regards, Paul

saxo042 (16554) 2009-09-09 12:28

Hej Ulf,
A marvellous picture with mainlt three colours, that are in a very fine harmony with each other. This is also a very interesting study of different building styles. All details are very sharp and accurate. Interesting note too!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

leonorkuhn (14351) 2009-09-09 14:09

Hi Ulf,

Gorgeous composition. Beautiful façades in great colors, light and details. Well done!

Greetings
Leonor

rodgerg (25489) 2009-09-10 0:30

Hello Ulf,

Good framing very well selcetd to these two superb and colured frontage. The colors of the two houses arise very well in the blue of the sky. details of the architectur very well collected too.
Best regards,
Roger

mauro61 (16620) 2009-09-12 0:29

ciao Ulf,
una bella inquadratura con queste due case vicine , diverse negli stili e nei colori.
Il cielo azzurro fada sfondo al bel cromatismo dello scatto.
saluti
maurizio

Jakab (3524) 2009-09-12 15:40

Hello Ulf,
very nice Renaissance facades, especially the red one. Reading your interesting note it comes to my mind that on this part of Europe we tend to think of Scandinavian countries as isles of eternal peace as if they were not descendants of the vikings.
This lighting (strong lights with the sun behind you) is seldom good for architectural photography but in this case absolutely perfect.
Best whishes
Laszlo

pablominto (41676) 2009-09-15 23:11

Hej Ulf,

Two fine old facades, captured with outstanding details!
I notice the house to the left side is rich in ornaments, while the other is more modest...
A pleasant colour palette where the intense blue sky makes a fine background!

Greetings,
Pablo -

westcoastgirl1 (1666) 2009-10-10 22:24

Hi Ulf

I like all the geometric shapes here. The square windows and curved roof lines. The colours are perfectly displayed, not overdone. The sky is a brilliant blue and stands out from the houses. Good historical write up.

TFS,
Tosca