Kullervo Sets Off for War

Kullervo Sets Off for War (Finnish: Kullervon sotaanlähtö) is a painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela from the year 1901. He painted the subject in tempera painting (89 × 128 cm)^[1] and as a fresco (355 × 687 cm) which is located in the music hall of Old Student House of Helsinki University.^[2]

Kullervo Sets Off for War
Finnish: Kullervon sotaanlähtö
Gallen-Kallela's tempera version from 1901.
Artist	Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Year	1901
Medium	Mural & Tempera
Dimensions	355 cm x 687 cm (mural) 89 cm x 128 cm (tempera)
Location	Mural: Old Student House Tempera: Ateneum, Helsinki

The fresco at Old Student House

Description

The fresco was donated to the Students' union by Otto Donner.^[3]

The theme for the painting is from the Kalevala, national epic of Finland. Kullervo sits on a white horse ready to ride to war, to take revenge on his uncle Untamo.^[4] He is followed by a dog or a wolf.

Gallen-Kallela traveled to Siena, Italy, where he likely saw the frescoes by Simone Martini in the Palazzo Pubblico. Martini's Equestrian portrait probably gave Gallen-Kallela inspiration for the setting of Kullervo.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  1897 sketch of the work by Gallen-Kallela
• 
  Simone Martini, Equestrian portrait of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, c. 1330
• 
  1935 Finnish postage stamp featuring the painting