He was a Swedish painter and illustrator
and died 36 years old in November 20, 1918 on the lake Vättern.
John Bauer was born June 4 1882 and raised in Jönköping with his two brothers and sister, Anna Bauer, whose early death at 13 had a profound effect on John and his brothers. Living in an apartment situated above their father's charcuterie, he was always given to sketching and drawing. At sixteen, he set off for Stockholm to study art, and after two years he entered the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.
At the academy he met Esther Ellquist, whom he would marry in December 1906. Together they embarked on a two-year long trip to Germany and Italy to study art (1908–1910).
Bauer's wife became the model for many of Bauer's paintings, most notably The Fairy Princess in 1905.
Bauer suffered from depression and self-doubts. By 1918 his marriage was falling apart, divorce was being discussed, and the world was at war. John and Esther, and their two-year old son, Bengt or Putte, were on their way to a new home in Stockholm, where John hoped for spiritual renewal and a new life for himself and his family. In the wake of the recent well-publicized train accident of Getå, John booked their return to Stockholm on a ferry, the Per Brahe steamer.
John Bauer died in the shipwreck of Per Brahe along with Ester and Bengt.
Bauer's early work was influenced to a large extent by Albert Engström and Carl Larsson, two contemporaries and influential painters. Bauer's first major work was commissioned in 1904, when he was asked to illustrate a book on Lappland. It was not until 1907 that he would become known for his illustrations of Bland tomtar och troll, the yearly fairy tale book, in which his most highly acclaimed works would be published in the 1912-1915 editions.
Bauer also produced a fresco, Den helige Martin (The Holy Martin), which can be seen in the Odd Fellows lodge in Nyköping. Bauer's themes can be found in later works by the illustrators Arthur Rackham, Sulamith Wülfing, Kay Nielsen, Brian Froud and Rebecca Guay.
Modern day influence
On the 100-year anniversary of the birth of John Bauer, the Swedish postal service made three, and later in 1997 four stamps with motifs from Bland tomtar och troll.
A Scandinavian franchise of private schools has derived its name and some themes from John Bauer, naming its classes after his characters, for example.
He is mentioned in Neil Gaiman's comic book series The Sandman.
The visual look of the motion picture The Dark Crystal, by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, was developed by primary concept artist and chief creature designer, Brian Froud, who in turn was inspired by the art of John Bauer.
Norwegian Artist Mortiis uses the art of John Bauer on his ambient albums.
You can read more here : http://bauer.artpassions.net/
and here : http://www.johnbauersmuseum.nu/diverse/english.html
Ruth Esther Elisabeth Ellqvist-Bauer was born August 4, 1880 in Ausås, died November 20, 1918 on the lake, was a Swedish artist working as a painter.
Ellqvist studied in the late 1890s at the Technical School in Stockholm, from where she continued her studies at the Art Academy from 1900 to 1905 during Arborelius. At the same time she pursued studies in etching at Tallberg's etching school.
After her marriage to John Bauer, she reluctantly cancel his artistic education.
She was about to resume his painting when she was with her husband and son died in the Per Brahe's demise outside Hästholmen in the lake Vättern.
Self Portrait of Esther.
Per Brahe was a steamer who wrecked at night 19 November 1918.
John Bauer is just 36 years old. He dies with his wife Esther and their son Putte when Per Brahe steamer wrecked at night 19 November 1918.
The accident is a very renowned event that contributes to John Bauer's fame. Perhaps it is seen as a fitting end, though tragic, that fabulous artist went to their death in the magical Vätterns depth.
The family Bauer embarks on the canal boat Per Brahe in GrÄnnas port at half past eleven at night. During the day, they visited an artist friend, assembly in for dinner. It has sparked a lot of high winds during the day but at night they have subsided somewhat.
When the boat leaves the harbor, a little late, blowing it once again, however up to the storm. Earlier in the day, the steamer loaded with sewing machines from Husqvarna. They have lashed fast to the boat in a way that later proved wrong - and very fatal.
At the entrance to the next port at Hästholmen (just south of Omberg) capsized Per Brahe, a few hundred yards from shore. Steamer - with 16 crew and 8 passengers - sink to the bottom. The accident sequence is very fast and no one on board manage to escape.
The next day begins jetsam wash ashore. When you realize that disaster strikes, and that the famous fairy artist are among the victims, flagged it at half mast throughout the city. The press writes about the dramatic event for a long time to come.
Only four years later launched the widely acclaimed recovery of the Per Brahe. The whole country following the event, and John Bauer's tragic death made him even more famous and talked about than before. John's body found outside his cabin, Esther and Puttes found in the saloon.
John Bauer and his family were taken to the Jönköping eastern cemetery where they buried 1922nd.
This is SS PerBrahe.