Artwork: Hanna Ouchterlony

On the artwork ‘Hanna Ouchterlony’, around the plinth below the bronze bust, is a frieze of images depicting the establishment of the Salvation Army in Sweden. Hanna Ouchterlony (1838-1924) grew up in Värnamo. She worked as a bookseller but travelled to England to train with the Salvation Army. She started its work in Sweden in 1882 and in Norway six years later. For ten years, Hanna Ouchterlony was the leader of the Salvation Army here in Sweden and thus one of the country’s foremost religious leaders.

The artist Sten Ericsson studied at the Technical School in Stockholm and under Nils Möllerberg at the Academy of Fine Arts. His sculptures are usually life-size people, standing simply and freely. They are artlessly realistic but also reflect uncertainty in posture and facial features.

‘Hanna Ouchterlony’ goes against the grain; in addition to being depicted in a bust, she looks stern and confident. Sten Ericsson has created a number of public sculptures in several cities including Stockholm, Linköping and Copenhagen. Purchased by the Municipality of Värnamo in 1958.