TESSIN (Nicodemus the younger, 1654-1728, Swedish Architect and Royal Councillor)

Document signed, in Swedish with translation, and subscribed by him "in the King's Majesty's absence", on behalf of FREDERIK I (1676-1751, king from 1720), replying to an attractively written request by Frans Johanszen, (clerk in the Appeal Court), Tessin's answer lies in the originally blank portion left by Johanszen below the King's name, Johanszen writes "Last Saturday evening the 7th July 1722, extremely late, there was sent to me from Your Royal Majesty's Appeal Court, an extensive Complaint Document, under Daniel Jochimson's name", but lacking the references to the statutes and precedents required by "the Royal Ordinance of 30th January 1689", Johanszen "cannot state them with certainty" and begs the King "not to begrudge ... a few days ... the Compromisers ask likewise", sending the Complaint and promising that "a proper, humble explanation shall hasten to accompany it ... I remain till my death" (9th July 1722), Tessin replies that the King will graciously have agreed "to the desired extension ... which is only to apply to the persons concerned; it being necessary to hold back the execution decreed on them ... until the King's Majesty's gracious Resolution herein" (Council Chamber, 10th July 1722), 2 sides folio, Stockholm, 9th-10th July neatly attached by blank left margin of recto to a guard in cardboard folder, one or two letters at 2 line ends on verso obscured by original stamp

Tessin was master of the works at Drottningholm (1681), where he completed his father's design (conceived before Versailles), and laid out the first nordic park in full baroque style.
His greatest work is the Royal Palace in Stockholm (1697), with its spacious courtyards and façades varied with straight and curving wings. Here Tessin rationalised the Roman baroque - the East and West are influenced by Bernini, the decorations by Versailles. He became a Royal Counsellor in 1712.
See Boham, 'Svenska Män och Kvinnor', (1954), Vol. 7, 487-489, including a fine colour portrait.

Item Date:  1722

Stock No:  17981      £675

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