Sofie Ribbing, 1835 – 1894

The 6 Most Famous Paintings by Sofie Ribbing

The painting that made Sofie Ribbing famous is Studiehode (1860); it hangs in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. Self-portrait (1865) and Painting (1894) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 6 works by Sofie Ribbing in our catalogue, these 6 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.

Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portrait of Sofie Ribbing
Sofie Ribbing · 1835 – 1894
Born · died
1835 – 1894, Adelöv parish
Works in our catalogue
6
Most famous
Studiehode (1860)
Most works at
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design

Sofie Ribbing: the ten masterpieces

Where to see Sofie Ribbing's paintings

The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Sofie Ribbing Paintings from this list
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, OsloNational Museum of Art, Architecture and Design Oslo 3 Studiehode, Painting, Italiensk pike
Vasari Corridor, FlorenceVasari Corridor Florence 1 Self-portrait
National Portrait Gallery of Sweden, SträngnäsNational Portrait Gallery of Sweden Strängnäs 1 Helena Roed (1843-1926), dansk, verksam i Sverige, författare, kulturskribent, g.m. professorn i estetik Carl Rupert Nyblom
Gothenburg Museum of Art, GothenburgGothenburg Museum of Art Gothenburg 1 Boys drawing

Sofie Ribbing, year by year: the defining paintings

From 1860 to 1894, 35 years of Sofie Ribbing's art, year by year, through its finest paintings.

  1. 1860
    Studiehode (1860) by Sofie Ribbing
    Rank 1 / 6

    Studiehode

    Age 25 · National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
  2. 1864
    Boys drawing (1864) by Sofie Ribbing
    No. 6 of 6

    Boys drawing

    Age 29 · Gothenburg Museum of Art
  3. 1865
  4. 1894
    Painting (1894) by Sofie Ribbing
    Rank 3 / 6

    Painting

    Age 59 · National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design

Sofie Ribbing's masterpieces: questions and answers

Which painting is Sofie Ribbing best known for?Show the answer

Studiehode (1860), National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. Next come Self-portrait (1865) and Painting (1894).

How old was Sofie Ribbing when painting Studiehode?Show the answer

25 years old: Studiehode dates from 1860 and Sofie Ribbing was born in 1835.

How many works did Sofie Ribbing paint?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 6 works by Sofie Ribbing, dated from 1860 to 1894.

In which museums can I see Sofie Ribbing's masterpieces?Show the answer

Most of them are in National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design (Oslo), Vasari Corridor (Florence) and National Portrait Gallery of Sweden (Strängnäs). The table above lists the museums one by one.

What are the first and last famous paintings of Sofie Ribbing?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is Studiehode (1860), the latest Painting (1894).

Which masterpieces by Sofie Ribbing hang at the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design?Show the answer

Studiehode, Painting and Italiensk pike are among the 3 works on this page held by the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo.

Can I own a reproduction of a Sofie Ribbing masterpiece?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

The life of Sofie Ribbing

A Life of Movement and Light

The Södraholm estate in Adelöv parish holds the beginning of Sofie Amalia Ribbing’s story. Born in 1835 to Swedish nobility, her early years are framed by the Bråneryd estate near Jönköping. Her father, Per Arvid Ribbing, manages the local district court, while her mother, Karolina Augusta Ehrencrona, brings a lineage of high standing. This aristocratic upbringing provides more than just status; it offers an early immersion in fine painting collections that shape her developing eye.

The trajectory shifts in 1850. The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm becomes her first formal training ground. But the borders of Sweden are too small for her ambitions. She moves toward the Düsseldorf Academy, seeking the guidance of Karl Ferdinand Sohn. This transition marks a departure from local tradition toward the influential Düsseldorf School style. Her education expands through the streets of Paris, where she works under Jean-BT-Ange Tissier, and into Brussels, studying under Louis Gallait.

The Mastery of Portraiture and Genre

Her brush finds its strength in the intimate and the domestic. She specializes in portraits and genre scenes, often capturing families within their private settings. In 1864, a specific moment of creation emerges: Ritande Gossar, or Boys Drawing. The work gains immediate recognition, eventually being acquired by the Gothenburg Art Association for a record sum. This painting later earns a place in the Europeana 280 project, representing Swedish art to a broader European audience.

Her technical development follows a path of geographic expansion. As she moves through Copenhagen, London, and Rome, her subject matter adapts to the light and people she encounters. Her portfolio includes:

  • Portrait of Helena Nyblom, held at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.
  • Self-portrait in the Uffizi, a reflection of her time in Italy.
  • Den övergivna, completed in 1869.
  • A Little Chicken Girl, from 1888.

A European Presence

The map of her life is a series of studio visits and exhibitions. She establishes herself in the Brussels Salon in 1866 and participates in the Industrial Exposition of Stockholm that same year. Her presence is felt in London’s Royal Academy during the 1870s, and she displays works in Copenhagen and Amsterdam. These are not merely travels; they are professional engagements that place her work in the hands of major institutions.

Her final chapters unfold far from her Swedish birthplace. She spends time in Rome, sharing the company of fellow artists like Agnes Börjesson. The end comes in 1894 in Christiania, now Oslo, while she is visiting Norway. Her legacy remains anchored in the permanent collections of the Uffizi Gallery, the National Gallery of Norway, and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.