Bonader is a Swedish art form of the late 18th and early 19th century that drew its subject matter primarily from Scandinavian mythology and Biblical stories, often portrayed in sequential scenes or panels. Between 1936 and 1953, Winifred Boynton completed a number of paintings in the bonader style for Björklunden's lodge. In addition, she collected original Swedish bonader and displayed these works at Björklunden as well.
When the lodge was destroyed by fire in 1993, many of Mrs. Boynton's bonader paintings were lost. However, the college commissioned the restoration of the surviving pieces (works by Mrs. Boynton and anonymous Swedish artists) for installation in the new lodge, completed in 1996. James Hempel, '00, of Appleton, cleaned and stabilized the surfaces of several bonader panels that are now displayed prominently in the Great Room and Seminar Room at the new Björklunden.
To view the entire bonader panel pictured above, go here.
Return to Björklunden History, Part Four
