Museum
The museum at Söderlångvik Manor, located in the main building, displays Amos Anderson’s art collection and information about his personal history. The museum was opened to the public in 1965 according to the wishes of Amos Anderson (1878–1961). The house underwent a thorough renovation in 2018–2021 when the interiors regained their original style from the 1930s. The interior of Söderlångvik is mostly classic design featuring both antique furniture and retro-style furniture. Most of Amos Anderson’s library is located here; the rest is in Amos’ apartment in Helsinki, which was opened as the museum Amos Andersons Hem in March 2023.
The permanent exhibition at Söderlångvik displays art from collections of the art association Konstsamfundet. The selection mainly consists of Finnish art from 1900 to 1950.
The interiors are special in many ways. The first thing visitors encounter in the museum’s entrance hall is Juho Rissanen’s recently cleaned Bretagne-Madonna. The Billiard Room is dominated by seating furniture that was originally intended to be used by Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, the would-be first king of Finland. The large dining room is furnished for 34 dinner guests, and there is a private cinema hidden in the basement.
The museum annually organises one or more temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. The most unusual features of the museum are on the outside: the four caryatids—the female-shaped columns from the Swedish Theatre’s original façade from 1866—have graced Amos Anderson’s garage since the mid-1930s, when the theatre was renovated.
Come learn about Amos Anderson’s impressive life and see his extensive art collection as well as our exhibitions! We are open every day 11-17 from May to September, with the exception of Midsummer Fri-Sun.
More information about Amos Anderson (in Swedish and Finnish) is available at amoshem.fi.
Exhibition in the restaurant
Niclas Warius: Vanitas Chimitoensis
The series Vanitas Chimitoensis came about when photographer Niclas Warius (b. 1972) searched for the soul of businessman and art patron Amos Anderson (1878-1961) at his former summer residence Söderlångvik in the autumn of 2018. The place, which had recently closed its doors for a three-year renovation, was in many ways in a poor and worn condition. Warius rummaged through the building from attic to basement looking for signs and clues, objects and moods for his still lifes. The artist’s imagination combined with the environment of Söderlångvik to create captivating and enigmatic works that, instead of luxurious facades, depict something bizarre and twisted. The mood of the images is calm, melancholic and nostalgic, time seems to stand still. We don’t really know which decade we are in.
The series of symbolic still lifes is one of Niclas Warius’ extensive production with a vanitas theme that has been shown in many exhibitions in Finland and Sweden. Vanitas paintings deal with the transience of worldly wealth and were popular especially in the Netherlands in the 17th century.
Niclas Warius’ exhibition Vanitas Chimitoensis is shown at the restaurant at Söderlångvik since the summer of 2019.
Park
From the house, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the garden that Paul Olsson designed in the 1930s. A fountain called “Nyckeln” meaning “The Key” was built at that time. Over the years, the park has gone through many changes, but the aim has been to preserve parts of the original design. Many of the trees on the big lawn were planted by guests of Amos Anderson. During the large renovation project 2019–2021, the park was restored to its former glory as well.