Ready for the garden party *1900)

 Ready for the garden party. Norwegian photographer Gustav Borgen´s (ab.) 1900 photo of Mr. and Mrs. Lundh. My colorization of the original in the Norsk Folkemuseum archive.

A little sailor (ab. 1900)

A little sailor from Norway. My colorization of Gustav Borgen´s portrait from (ab.) 1900 in the Norsk Folkemuseum archive.

Mademoiselle Ydette-Jolie (1906)

Mademoiselle Ydette-Jolie, Dancer. Photographed in 1906 in Oslo by Gustav Borgen (1865-1926). My colorization of an image in the Norsk Folkmuseum archive.

US diplomat Alvey A. Adee riding to work (1914)

This 1914 photo by Harris & Ewing shows 72 year old US diplomat Alvey Augustus Adee, Second Assistant Secretary of State, riding to work on his bicycle. My colorization of a picture in the Library of Congress archive.

An article by Peter Bridges in the American Diplomacy web gives us this information about Adee´s bicycle hobby:

"At some point in the 1890s Adee began annual cycling trips to Europe. He took as much as two months’ leave each spring—which successive Secretaries of State granted, presumably on the basis that the reliable Adee would be in charge of the department during their own summer vacations—and he would do between 1,500 and 2,000 miles on his ‘wheel’ through Europe, alone or with a friend or two. His most frequent companions were Alexander Thackara, a senior American consular officer, and Thackara’s wife, who was the daughter of General William T. Sherman, the Civil War commander. France was Adee’s favourite cycling ground, but he also toured Italy, Germany and the Alps. At least once, in 1895, he cycled through England and Scotland, where he is said to have met Woodrow Wilson, then a professor at Princeton University, and to have continued his tour together with the future President."28

"Adee also cycled to the State Department while living in Washington, and was the only official permitted to bring his bicycle into the State Department building and stand it in a particular place in the corner.29 But Adee did not always live in Washington." 

If you are interested in US diplomatic history, the article by Peter Bridges is well worth reading:

http://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2001/12/an-appreciation-of-alvey-adee/  

Brita and Carl Johan Strömmer (1904)

Brita and Carl Johan Strömmer photographed on their diamond anniversary day on March 3, 1904. My colorization of a photo by Karls Atelier in Vasa, Finland. The original image is in the Svenska Litteratursällskapet archive.

Portrait of Royal Swedish Air Force captain Paulus af Uhr (1927)

Bernhard Jernberg´s 1927 portrait of captain (later major general) Paulus af Uhr of the newly founded Royal Swedish Air Force - here processed and colorized by me - is in the Swedish Digital Museum archive (FMF.002492). Paulus af Uhr was also a prominent athlete. He participated in the Stockholm Olympic games in 1912 and held the Swedish high jump record, 188 cm, in 1914 - 1917.

Portrait of shipowner Gustaf Erikson (1872 - 1947)

Portrait of Gustaf Erikson (1872 - 1947), the owner of the last fleet of windjammers. My editing and colorization of a photo in the Maritime Museum archive in Stockholm (Fo220180). In 1935 Erikson´s fleet reached the peak in the number of vessels, among them these legendary deep-sea sailing vessels:

Moshulu
Passat
Lawhill
Olivebank
Herzogin Cecilie
Pamir
Pommern
Viking
Archibald Russel
L´Avenir
Ponape
Winterhude
Killoran
Grace Harwar

"Gustaf Adolf Mauritz Erikson (1872, Lemland – 1947) was a ship-owner from Mariehamn, in the Åland islands (Finland). He was famous for the fleet of windjammers he operated to the end of his life, mainly on the grain trade from Australia to Europe.
Erikson was involved in sailing for virtually his entire life. He went to sea at age 9, was commanding a sailing vessel in the North Sea trade by age 19, and was master of a number of square-rigged vessels prior to becoming an owner.[1]
His ships were bought cheaply as most shipping companies switched to steam ships about the turn of the century; Erikson would often acquire ships at shipbreakers prices.[1] In the early 1920s there was still some competition for the windjammers sold – the shipping company F. Laeisz even ordered new sailing ships in the 1920s – but in the 1930s Erikson owned a significant share of the operational windjammers of the world. In March 1935, he purchased Moshulu, "one of the finest steel barques afloat", for only $12,000.[2]
By the late 1930s, the South Australian grain trade was virtually the only profitable use for windjammers, and then only if the ship owner minimized costs as much as possible. Erikson supplied his ships adequately with crew and supplies as these were necessary for his ships to sail quickly and efficiently, but supplied neither more crew nor equipment than was necessary. Erikson's large four-masted barques would routinely sail on voyages of 30,000 nautical miles (56,000 km) with less than 30 crew.[3]
A young Eric Newby sailed to Australia on Moshulu in 1938–1939, as part of the South Australian grain trade. At the time she was owned by Erikson and part of the last "great fleet of sailing ships". Newby chronicled his trip in The Last Grain Race and Learning the Ropes, where he wrote that Erikson was both respected and reviled by the crew, who knew him only as "Ploddy Gustav". Of the 13 ships which took part in the 1939 grain race, 10 were Erikson ships." (Wikipedia)

An emancipated lady in the 1890´s

An emancipated lady in Helsinki in the 1890´s. My colouring of a photo in the Helsinki City

 museum archive (G16900).

Portrait of Jean Sibelius

Portrait of Finnsh composer Jean Sibelius, published in the book "Sketches of Finland", 1939. Colouring by me. 

Crown Prince Gustaf of Sweden and his wife in 1906

Crown Prince Gustaf and his wife, Victoria of Baden. 

The photograph - here with my colour work - was published in the 

Swedish magazine Hvar 8 Dag in September 1906. 

"Gustaf V (Oscar Gustaf Adolf; 16 June 1858 – 29 October 1950) was King of Sweden from 1907 until his death in 1950. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Reigning from the death of his father Oscar II in 1907 until his own death 43 years later, he holds the record of being the oldest monarch of Sweden and the third-longest reigning after Magnus IV and Carl XVI Gustaf.   ---

On 20 September 1881 he married Princess Victoria of Baden in Karlsruhe, Germany. She was the granddaughter of Sophie, Grand Duchess of Baden, the daughter of deposed Gustav IV Adolf of Vasa Dynasty. Victoria's marriage to Gustaf V united the reigning Bernadotte dynasty with the former royal house of Holstein-Gottorp, and thus was popular throughout Sweden." (Wikipedia)

Portrait of general Kuropatkin in the early 1900s

Alexei Nikolayevich Kuropatkin (Russian: Алексе́й Никола́евич Куропа́ткин; March 29, 1848 – January 16, 1925) was the Russian Imperial Minister of War from 1898 to 1904, and often held responsible for major Russian defeats in the Russian-Japanese War, most notably at the Battle of Mukden and the Battle of Liaoyang. --

Following the October Revolution, he became very skilled at playing the violin and taught at an agriculture school that he had founded, until his death in 1925.

(Wikipedia)

The picture was published in the Swedish magazine Allers Familj-Journal in 1905. Colouring by me.

Portrait of a Cree Indian

This portrait of a Native American Cree was published in

 the Finnish book "Maapallo" (volume 4) in 1925. 

Coloring by me. 

Portrait of German Emperor Frederick III

This portrait of German Emperor Frederick III, colored by me, was published in the book "Världens Hufvudstäder" in 1892.

"Frederick III (German: Friedrich; 18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888) was German Emperor and King of Prussia for ninety-nine days in 1888."

" Although celebrated as a young man for his leadership and successes during the Second Schleswig, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars,[2][3] he nevertheless professed a hatred of warfare and was praised by friends and enemies alike for his humane conduct. Following the unification of Germany in 1871 his father, then King of Prussia, became the German Emperor. Upon Wilhelm's death at the age of ninety on 9 March 1888, the thrones passed to Frederick, who had by then been German Crown Prince for seventeen years and Crown Prince of Prussia for twenty-seven years. Frederick was suffering from cancer of the larynx when he died on 15 June 1888, aged fifty-six, following unsuccessful medical treatments for his condition." (Wikipedia)

Portrait of a young lady from Tahiti

This portrait of a young lady from Tahiti (here partially coloured by me) was published

 in the 1909 August 8 issue of the Swedish weekly Hvar 8 Dag.

Portrait of an Eurasian dog

Today at sunset I met this wonderful Eurasian dog on the beach.

(If you look closely, you can see the sun setting in the left eye of the dog).

More info about the breed:

"Eurasiers are calm, even-tempered dogs. They are watchful and alert, yet reserved towards strangers without being timid or aggressive. Eurasiers form a strong link to their families. For the full development of these qualities, the Eurasier needs constant close contact with its family, combined with understanding, yet consistent, training. They are extremely sensitive to harsh words or discipline and respond best to soft reprimand. The Eurasier is a combination of the best qualities of the Chow Chow, the Keeshond, and the Samoyed (dog), resulting in a dignified, intelligent breed." (Wikipedia)

Portrait of Yuja Wang

Chinese pianist Yuja Wang is one of my favourite musicians.

Here is "my" take of Wang making music:

Finnish bass-baritone Yrjö Somersalmi as Boris Godunov (1925)

Finnish bass-baritone Yrjö Somersalmi (1885 – 1929) was much praised for his role as Boris Godunov. This photograph by Atelier Helander was published by the Finnish weekly Suomen Kuvalehti in 1925. (My colouring)

A prayer

This photograph was on the cover of the Finnish weekly Suomen Kuvalehti´s
Easter issue in 1925.

(colouring by me)

Portrait of a young lady from Finland

This portrait of a young Finnish lady was published in the book "Sketches of Finland" (1939):

Soprano Christina Nilsson (19th century photograph)

Here is an early portrait of the great 19th century Swedish soprano Christina Nilsson. Colour added by me:

Additional information about Christina Nilsson from Wikipedia:

Christina Nilsson, Countess de Casa Miranda, (20 August 1843 – 20 November 1921) was a Swedish operatic soprano. She possessed a brilliant bel canto technique and was considered a rival to the Victorian era's most famous diva, Adelina Patti. --

Christina Nilsson was born Kristina Jonasdotter in the village of Sjöabol, near Växjö, Småland, to the peasants Jonas Nilsson and Cajsa-Stina Månsdotter. From her earliest years, she demonstrated vocal talent.^[1] She taught herself to play on the violin and flute, and sang in the peasants' fairs in Sweden with her brother. She was discovered by a prominent civil servant when, aged 14, she was performing at a market in Ljungby. He soon became her patron, enabling her to have vocal training. She was a pupil of Franz Berwald for two years.

In 1860, she gave concerts in Stockholm and Uppsala. After four years' study in Paris, she had her operatic début 1864 as Violetta in Giuseppe Verdi's opera La Traviata at the Théâtre Lyrique, Paris.^[1] After this success she sang at major opera houses in London, Saint Petersburg, Vienna and New York. She also appeared in the Metropolitan Opera's inaugural performance on October 22, 1883 in Gounod's Faust.
Christina Nilsson was married in Westminster Abbey to the French banker Auguste Rouzaud, who later died in 1882. In 1887 she married Angel Ramon Maria Vallejo y Miranda, Count de Casa Miranda, who died in 1902.^[1] In correspondence, Nilsson often signed her first name as Christine, and during the last part of her life she was generally known as the Countess de Casa Miranda.
She died in Växjö, Sweden in 1921. Unfortunately, unlike Patti, she never made gramophone recordings of her voice.