Carl Elmberg

The Swedish sculptor Carl Elmberg started as a trainee of a local sculptor in Kalmar and studied at the Stockholm School of Technology. From 1911-13 he lived in Germany and from 1920-21 in Italy. He worked briefly for sculptor Carl Milles, and later in his own workshop. His first major order was a fountain for a park in Västeräs. In Rome, he won the first prize in a competition for a fountain figure. It was never realized, however. Over the next years, he created a number of fountains for several cities in Sweden, which show his ability to combine water and figures to a sculptural unity. He later also worked with stucco reliefs in the interior and exterior. He also produced numerous figurative reliefs and small sculptures in bronze, wood and stone for the secular and religious use.

In 1920, Elmberg won a competition for a fountain for the central square in the city of Halmstad. His design was called The Horse (Hästen) and represented an upright horse that fought against the water-spraying dragon. His proposal, however, was not implemented. A sketch entitled Hästen is kept in Halland’s Konstmusum in Halmstad. This could well be his entry The Untamed Horse.