The Facts
On October 27, 2026, Nationalmuseum announced that the Morgan Library & Museum in New York will open 'Fantasy and Reality: The Art of Johan Tobias Sergel' on October 30, 2026. Organized by Nationalmuseum, the exhibition is the first major survey of the Swedish Neoclassical sculptor outside Europe and a smaller version of a show held at Nationalmuseum earlier in 2026. It features sculptures in terracotta, marble, bronze, and plaster, along with a major group of drawings, including self-portraits and works that highlight Sergel's friendships, his ties to King Gustav III, and his life with Anna Rella Hellström. Highlights include two versions of 'Cupid and Psyche' and 'The Faun', shown with preparatory works. Drawings by contemporaries like Henry Fuseli and George Romney provide context. The exhibition runs through January 31, 2027.
The Signal
Sergel was celebrated in his lifetime as a leading Neoclassical sculptor but later faded from the broader narrative. This collaboration between Nationalmuseum and the Morgan Library & Museum aims to reintroduce him to international audiences and reposition his work. For collectors and scholars, it offers a rare opportunity to see a comprehensive selection of his work outside Sweden, highlighting the importance of Swedish art in the 18th-century European context.
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- Artists: Johan Tobias Sergel, Henry Fuseli, Jacob Philipp Hackert, Esprit Antoine Gibelin, François-André Vincent, George Romney, Julien de Parme
- People: King Gustav III, Anna Rella Hellström
- Museums: Nationalmuseum, Morgan Library & Museum
- Locations: New York
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