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Einar Benediktsson

Einar Benediktsson

Ásmundur Sveinsson


  • Year : 1964
  • Height : 530 cm
  • Width : 300 cm
  • Category : Skúlptúr
  • Sub-category : Málmskúlptúr

Location: Höfði. By Höfði stands a memorial for one of its residents, the poet Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940). Benediktsson and family lived in the house from 1914 to 1917. The sculpture is by sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson and was originally placed at Klambratún in 1964. It shows the poet standing beside a harp, the symbol of poetry, and stands around six metres tall, as Ásmundur wanted to show Benediktsson grandeur and how he was unable to think in small terms. Benediktsson had an interesting life, he was an adventurer, travelled more widely than most of his contemporaries and stayed abroad for long periods. He was a distinguished poet and published five books of poetry. He also published the first newspaper in Iceland, which he called Dagskrá (Agenda) and edited it himself. Benediktsson had a strong sense of social solidarity and wanted to raise his people up, to education and higher purpose. Bragi publishing company initiated and sponsored the sculpture’s design and creation and donated to the citizens of Reykjavík in 1964. In 2014, the City Council agreed on an appeal from an interest group which thought it would be a greater honour for the poet if the sculpture be placed in the vicinity of Höfði, and it was transferred there in 2015.

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