Getting There - Stockholm & Helsinki

More photos from Stockholm's Stadshuset - two views of the Blue Hall, site of the annual Nobel Prize awards banquet. The Nobel laureates enter the hall through the door and along the balcony shown in the photo to the left, and then descend the staircase shown below.

Stadshuset - Portrait of Klas Henning Westerberg, painted in the 1920's.

There are many fine paintings and other works of art displayed in the Stadshuset, but I understand that there are only two portraits. It seems that the subject of this portrait, Klas Henning Westerberg, was the last foreman of "vindragarna," the Stockholm guild that for centuries bottled and transported wine and spirits. It disbanded in about 1930. (http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vindragarlagets_hus) One source says that the king and queen receive the Nobel Prize laureates while standing near this portrait, as a reminder that even the most distinguished, powerful and talented owe a debt and a duty to common citizens, and by extension to all of humankind. (http://www.uuca.org/labors-of-love) I'm not sure if that story is true, but I like it.