Passion for Skien - Kongensgate 16

About

Discover a unique and historical artwork created by renowned Spanish artist Eduardo Baquerizo de Sobrino. Combining deep local history with a strong social commitment, this piece depicts Telemark’s rich 17th-century timber trade history.

About the Painting: 17th-Century Skien & The Great Fire of London

Inspired by an original painting by Peter Feiberg from around 1830, the motif captures one of the most significant eras in Telemark's history:

• The Timber Capital of Skien: The painting depicts Skien during the 1600s, a period when the city was one of Norway's largest and most crucial timber trading hubs.
• The Great Fire of London (1666): The top-left corner illustrates London ablaze during the catastrophic Great Fire of 1666.
• Historical Connection: The artwork highlights how massive quantities of timber were exported directly from Skien to rebuild the British capital after the fire.

About the Artist and the Social Initiative

Eduardo Baquerizo de Sobrino trained in Cádiz and Sevilla, Spain, graduating from the School of Arts and Crafts in Sevilla as a senior technician in graphic design. He has created paintings for private institutions in Rome and Padua, participated in several international art festivals, and is known for his social work helping the homeless reintegrate into society through art.

An Inclusive Artistic Collaboration:

The mural was completed in Skien with the valuable assistance of two young local helpers:

• Esteban Suarez: An exchange student from Colombia.
• Mohammad Alyounes: A young, unaccompanied refugee residing in Gulset, Skien.