Per Floding

Per Gustaf Floding, a Swedish designer and engraver, was born at Stockholm March 3, 1731. He was instructed by Charpentier, and resided chiefly in Paris, but finally returned to his native city, where he died Oct. 17, 1791.

At sixteen years of age Floding with local support was sent to Paris to learn engraving and worked well at the academy, and under the guidance of several excellent painters and engravers. There he developed his rich talents and with his progress flowed commissions of increasingly more generous benefits.

In 1761 Floding produced engravings including King Adolf Frederick on his throne with the estates by his side and Minerva against taking four children. The engravings brought such a satisfaction, that the Estates awarded him 2,000 livres annually, and the following year 600 livres for the procurement of equipment and instruments. Using these new tools in 1762 he invented what became known as the "laver insertion method" .

Floding was appointed Royal Majesty engraver and Garde d' Estampes of Crown Prince Gustav in 1763. He returned in 1764 to Stockholm, where he began working on the creation of an engraving school, which also came into being. Through this school, the idea of a complete art school for Sweden gained new life, and in 1768 revived the old drawing academy. He became professor of drawing at the new academy, and took care secretary chore and received in 1773 the appointment on these posts. Floding afterwards came at loggerheads with the leadership at the academy and hinted that something was not right with the Academy's funds. However, during his time there he educated numerous disciples.

He also engraved several plates, both in line and in aquatint, among which are the following: