Uppsala Cathedral Choir Interior, Koret i Domkyrkan, Tinted Lithograph 1877

Uppsala Cathedral Choir Interior, Koret i Domkyrkan, Tinted Lithograph 1877

Description:

This refined interior view depicts the choir of Uppsala Cathedral, presented as a monumental architectural space defined by soaring Gothic arches, massive clustered columns, and a carefully articulated sense of depth. The composition draws the viewer inward along the central axis of the nave toward the richly ornamented altar, with small staffage figures providing scale and quiet animation. The result is both documentary and atmospheric, capturing the cathedral not as an abstract monument but as a living civic and religious interior in late nineteenth-century Sweden.

The lithograph was drawn and lithographed by A. Nay and published in 1877 as part of the illustrated work Upsala, with accompanying text by S. Nordström. This later issue contains ten tinted lithographic plates instead of the twelve found in the earlier 1870 edition, making it a documented variant rather than an incomplete copy. Nay’s work is notable for its balanced combination of architectural precision and soft tonal colouring, which lends the stone interior a calm, almost silvery light.

Uppsala Cathedral, the largest church in Scandinavia, had long been a focal point of Swedish national identity, royal ceremony, and ecclesiastical power. By the late nineteenth century it also attracted antiquarian and scholarly attention, reflected here in the careful rendering of structural detail and spatial rhythm. This horizontal composition emphasizes the breadth and grandeur of the choir, making it especially suitable for architectural collectors and interior placements where scale and perspective are key.

This lithograph was issued within a broader visual documentation of Uppsala, including exterior city views and additional cathedral interiors. A closely related vertical view of the Gustavianska grafkoret, offering a more intimate perspective on the cathedral’s memorial chapels, was published in the same 1877 series and is available separately.

Condition:

Good overall condition. Light overall toning consistent with age. Minor scattered foxing and faint handling marks, mostly confined to the margins. Image area clean and well preserved. Margins ample.

Framing tips:

This horizontal composition benefits from a wide ivory or light warm-grey mat to emphasize depth. A dark walnut, ebonized, or softly patinated oak frame enhances the architectural gravitas without overpowering the image. Museum glass recommended.

Technique: Tinted lithograph

Maker: A. Nay, Sweden, 1877

Related works from this Uppsala series are available in my shop on 1stdibs.