Gunnar Finne Explained

Johan Gunnar Finne (4 April 1886 – 17 September 1952) was a Finnish sculptor. The architect Elna Kiljander became a single mother after a brief marriage with Finne from 1918 to 1926.^[1]

Finne's best-known work is the memorial for the author Zachris Topelius in Helsinki. Finne entered the memorial competition arranged in 1928 with an entry titled "Fact and Fable" and won the competition. The finished bronze sculpture was unveiled in 1932 in the Esplanadi Park in central Helsinki.^[2]

His other works include war heroes statues in Hollola (1941), Karkkila (1948) and Jyväskylä (1922).

Finne was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1951.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Elna Kiljander. Arkkitehtuurimuseo. 3 November 2017. Finnish. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011909/http://www.mfa.fi/arkkitehtiesittely?apid=16545337. dead.
2. Web site: Taru ja Totuus, Topeliuksen muistomerkki / Fact and Fable, memorial to Topelius. Helsinki City Art Museum. 31 July 2014.
3. Web site: Gunnar Finne. City of Tampere. 31 July 2014.