1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Byström, Johan Niklas

BYSTRÖM, JOHAN NIKLAS (1783–1848), Swedish sculptor, was born on the 18th of December 1783 at Philipstad. At the age of twenty he went to Stockholm and studied for three years under Sergel. In 1809 he gained the academy prize, and in the following year visited Rome. He sent home a beautiful work, “The Reclining Bacchante,” in half life size, which raised him at once to the first rank among Swedish sculptors. On his return to Stockholm in 1816 he presented the crown prince with a colossal statue of himself, and was entrusted with several important works. Although he was appointed professor of sculpture at the academy, he soon returned to Italy, and with the exception of the years from 1838 to 1844 continued to reside there. He died at Rome in 1848. Among Byström’s numerous productions the best are his representations of the female form, such as “Hebe,” “Pandora,” “Juno suckling Hercules,” and the “Girl entering the Bath.” His colossal statues of the Swedish kings are also much admired.