The Fortress at Hammershus

The Fortress at Hammershus is the first in the Bornholm Series of original watercolor paintings, inspired by genealogy trips to the island to discover my ancestral home and the history that is a part of my story.  My family has a deep history on the island dating back to the Viking era and beyond.  One of my ancestors was the first Commander of the fortress when it was built, the largest fortress in Northern Europe.  Today Hammershus is undergoing restoration work to replace the bricks and stones that were taken to build roads and homes on the island in decades past.  The rune stone monument in the lower right corner was erected as a memorial to a small group of islanders who, in 1658, staged an uprising to kill the, then, Swedish Governor of the island and to hand the island back to the Danish Crown.  The two leaders of the coupe' were direct ancestors.  Discovering my family history has been full of surprises.  This work celebrates one of them.  

Limited Edition reproductions of this work can be purchased at:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/katmarxartllc