Eronen, Matti :: Don Rosa / The Quest for Kalevala -story

The Quest for Kalevala page 20

Artists: Don Rosa (All) , Jussi Karjalainen (Letterer)

6 Comments - 2,495 Views - 3 Likes

The Quest for Kalevala page 20 Comic Art

Additional Images:

Page 20, Fantagraphics�version

close-up from my framing

Wuorio�s original model frame

Used frame from circa y1900

The Defense of the Sampo

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The Quest for Kalevala splash panel page 13A - alternative half page

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Artwork Details

Title:	The Quest for Kalevala page 20
Artist:	Don Rosa (All)
Artist:	Jussi Karjalainen (Letterer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	2,495
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	8/26/2018
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This is the peak of the hill of my Don Rosa originals. It is the page, and especially THE half page which is directly linking into "The Defense of the Sampo" painting. That painting has been considered over 100 years (longer than Finland's independence) as the best panting what our national painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela made about Kalevala. Everybody in Finland knows this painting ;-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Defense_of_the_Sampo
... and 1+million Finns have read Rosa's Quest for Kalevala, as minimum 20% from the nation!

Also when placing into the context of Rosa's whole production, can you name any other half page linking better into existing history or legends? There is many half pages full of characters and action, but how many linking into existing myths or locations this strongly?
I guess no need to explain more why I needed to acquire this art, at any cost... That's what you call collertor's life, sometimes...The same theme Rosa used also in the cover for this story, and that original art was sold for Sampo Insurance company (Nasdaq Helsinki: SAMPO) many years ago, at 5-digit � price... I guess it stays forever in their vault, it has never exhibited.

OK, internet is full of info about that Gallen-Kallela's painting like also analysis of this Rosa's story. But what is not told is its surroundings, so few words about it now. And speaking about framing ;-) Here's now some info which is not digitally available anywhere, neither much in books ;-)
Patron Wuorio, who originally ordered the painting from Gallen-Kallela, gave for him a model frame what should have been used for the framing of the coming painting (among 3 others). The model frame was matching with his coming dining hall interior. However, was it the high price of the painting or Wuorio's wife opinion; didn't like the idea watching this "ugly" painting (where evil witch Louhi & others) - so the painting didn't sell then in 1896. And after few years Turku Art Museum bought it. But if you now look this art in their collection, there is not used the original frame what was meant to be used!
So, that was my dilemma... once I wanted to to give some tribute and linking into the original Gallen-Kallela's painting, and framing as "time period original" way. So, looked over 1 year different collections, and then finally ended getting frames from 3 different frame shops! That is driving them nuts... normally they rather take care of the whole framing, but I was "cherry picking" moulding by moulding... Now those leaves in the frame are also close enough what Donald has just lifted in his rake.

Used "floating" hanging (by archival tape) to present the whole artwork, not hiding anything behind a passepartout, but showing how it left from Rosa's desk. There is still a small golden rim list, adding 5mm "safety margin", I mean air between the glass and the art, so the art will never touch the glass.

This artwork should have went into some museum, as the complete story, when originals came for sale in an auction 2015. But things happened so that this most important Rosa�s story, at least for Finnish readers, "broke down" around the globe, just like the original Sampo in Kalevala. Maybe it is the best in this way, so the artwork will bring joy for many comic art collectors. However, in a museum it would have been delighted more folks. I am feeling very happy to "rescue" few originals from the story.
To give perspective, when Finnish National Gallery (Ateneum) organised a small "Duckburg" exhibition, it attracted 245.000+ visitors just in 5 months! In this exhibition was only 12 works, mostly computer colorised drawings. Yes, read that again: National gallery presenting computer colorised pictures! This is what I call pop art ;-) Then just think and place into context this Rosa's original artwork for the story "The Quest for Kalevala".

The story has been published already in Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Island, Indonesia, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and US; in some countries several times. You can check details from here: https://inducks.org/story.php?c=D+99078
In Finnish this story has been printed in several editions, as "Sammon salaisuus". First time in the book: "Sammon salaisuus ja muita Don Rosan parhaita" (https://inducks.org/issue.php?c=fi/DR+1999#p007).
This Finnish first edition was awesome sales hit, and so far 12 editions has been done and over 100.000++ copies made since 1999. Remembering to scale into population of 5.5M inhabitants.

#DonRosa; #SammonPuolustus; #SammonSalaisuus

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Matti Eronen
Joined:	March 2017
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://Illusi0n.com
Country:	FINLAND
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Alex P. McDuck
Member Since 2015

Posted on 8/26/2018

wonderful Kalevala & D.U.C.K. art, congrats Matti :-)

Monty B
Member Since 2006

Posted on 8/26/2018

Beautiful page...congrats Matti!!!

S�ren M
Member Since 2008

Posted on 8/26/2018

This page used to be mine - but honestly ; it really belongs in Finland with a very passionated Don Rosa fan as you Matti. :-) It couldn`t have got a better home. I am so glad you appreciate it. Congrats, my friend !

William B.
Member Since 2004

Posted on 8/27/2018

wow, great page!

John Livesay
Member Since 2009

Posted on 10/15/2020

nicce one!

Julien Houzelot
Member Since 2023

Posted on 1/25/2023

Best page of a great story, i love it !

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