Portrait of Dag Hammarskjöld, UNNY019G, 1966, Ford Foundation & Bonniers Swedish Publishing House
Title

Portrait of Dag Hammarskjöld

Gift ID: 
UNNY019G

This portrait of the second United Nations Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, was painted by the artist Bo Beskow. Beskow is known for his static portraits, still-life, and painted cubist themes with a flat graphic style. He painted two other artworks in UNHQ-NY, the Meditation Room fresco and the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Penthouse (4th floor) mural.

The artist, Bo Viktor Beskow (1906 – 1989), was a Swedish painter and author. He was a close friend of Dag Hammarskjold, who was godfather to Beskow’s first daughter, Maria, born in 1958. Beskow wrote a book about his friend: Dag Hammarskjöld: a Portrait. It was published in 1968 by Bonnier Publishing House of Stockholm, Sweden.   

Dag Hammarskjöld was an economist and diplomat, appointed Secretary-General in 1953 who died in a 1961 airplane crash during the Congo Crisis, in Northern Rhodesia. He was 56 and considered one of the best statesmen in the diplomatic community and beyond. In 1963, a book was published entitled Markings (Vagmaken) which is a collection of his journal contemplations.   
 
The portrait was unveiled by United Nations Secretary-General U. Thant in 1966.

Donor Region: 
Others (Institutions, Foundations, Individuals)
Donor: 
Ford Foundation & Bonniers Swedish Publishing House
Classification: 
Paintings & Works on Paper
Materials: 
Oil on canvas
Medium: 
Oil on canvas
Location (Building): 
Secretariat (S)
Location floor: 
1st Floor
Donation Date: 
April 5, 1966
Artist or Maker: 
Bo Beskow
Dimensions: 
47 x 51 in