Man of Sorrows

On 14 February 1946, a fire broke out in Fors Church in Eskilstuna. The most severely affected object was a 15th-century sculpture, a Man of Sorrows depicting the resurrected Christ pointing to the wound in his side. The damage caused by the fire was so extensive that the sculpture could not remain in the church and was moved to the Swedish History Museum. Yet despite the damage from the flames, there is still life in the sculpture. Or perhaps the fire gave it new life?

Now, for the first time, the fire-damaged Man of Sorrows is being exhibited in the Swedish History Museum’s country church, the museum’s reconstruction of a medieval parish church. At the same time, other objects from the Swedish History Museum’s collections on the same theme are displayed, along with photographs by Ulf Tjärnström and woodcuts by Isabelle Westerlund. 

In collaboration with The Church of Sweden in Eskilstuna

The Swedish History Museum is part of the government authority the National Historical Museums of Sweden. The exhibition is part of the project When Objects Are Transformed in the Viewer’s Eye, a collaboration between the Church of Sweden in Eskilstuna and the National Historical Museums of Sweden, both stewards of Sweden’s ecclesiastical cultural heritage. The project is partly funded by the Church Antiquarian Compensation (Kyrkoantikvarisk ersättning).

Among objects on view:

Medieval art at the Swedish History Museum

The National Historical Museums of Sweden hold one of Northern Europe’s finest collections of medieval ecclesiastical art, the second-largest collection in Sweden after the Church of Sweden. The collection contains thousands of church objects—including altarpieces, wooden sculptures, and textiles—most of which have been donated, sold, or deposited by parishes.

What to know before your visit

• Admission: Free admission for children and youth up to 19 years of age.
• Packed lunch: We offer a large and pleasant lunchroom where you’ll have access to running water and a microwave. If the weather permits, you are also welcome to enjoy your meal in our courtyard (access through the museum entrance hall).
• Strollers: Strollers/prams are welcome in the museum’s exhibitions, except in the Gold Room, where emergency exits must be kept clear. There is a designated stroller parking area in the entrance hall.
• Changing facilities: Baby changing facilities are available in the accessible restrooms on all floors.