Early Life, Family and Training Albert Edelfelt was born on July 21, 1854, in Porvoo, Finland. His father, Carl Albert Edelfelt, was a Swedish-speaking Finn and an architect, while his mother, Alexandra Edelfelt, was born Alexandra Brandt. The early years of his life were shaped by the quiet surroundings of Porvoo. By 1869, his interest in drawing led him to the drawing school of the Finnish Art Society to begin formal studies. His training moved beyond Finland as he sought broader technical instruction. Between 1873 and 1874, he spent time at the Antwerp Academy of Art, where he focused on…