Far, far away he saw something bright and glittering

About the original:

Theodor Kittelsen's representation of Askeladden who sees Soria Moria in the distance has become for many a symbol of hope for the future and the dream of success in life.

Finally, Askeladden sees his goal – the shining Soria Moria castle – on the horizon. Theodor Kittelsen says: "Then he had lunch in the old shack and went out into the wide world to find the castle. It carried over forest and valley, mountains and many blues. Far, far away something shone like a small star. Then at last he came nearer and nearer, and still further away, to the east of the sun and west of the moon, shone the castle of Soria Moria in shining gold." The painting has almost become a symbol of the dream of success.

The picture was painted in 1900 and belongs to the series "Soria Moria castle" which consists of twelve paintings. The illustrated children's book with Kittelsen's own text was first published in 1911.

He who dares nothing, wins nothing

The folk tale "Soria Moria castle" was first written down and published by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the early 1840s. A good 15 years after Erik Werenskiold had created the first pictures for the adventure in 1884, Kittelsen painted his series and also created his own version of the story. All twelve paintings were exhibited at Blomqvist's and purchased by the National Gallery in the same year they were created. The paintings depict Cinderella's meeting with, among others, the bear, the dragon and the golden bird, while he is on his way to free the princess in the castle. The battle with the troll is inevitable, and the picture series follows the fairy tale tradition with a happy ending and wedding for the hero and princess.

Cinderella - hero or anti-hero?

You may know Cinderella from Theodor Kittelsen's drawings for the fairy tale "Askeladon and the good helpers" or "Askeladon who raced with the troll"? Or from Erik Werenskiold's drawings for "Soria Moria castle"? Many probably also think of Ivo Caprino's adventure films from the 1960s. Caprino's films are based on Asbjørnsen and Moe's folktales, and he was certainly inspired by the drawings of his predecessors Werenskiold and Kittelsen. The films "Cinderella. In Dovregubben's hall" (2016) and "Askeladden. In Soria Moria slott" (2019), directed by Mikkel Brænne Sandemose, also has many recognizable features from older text and images.

It is not unusual for the Askeladd character to have other names in the folk tales, such as Espen, Tyrihans, Askefisen, "the boy" or "the youngest". In the original version of the "Soria Moria" adventure, the boy's name is Halvor. Askeladden is the youngest of three brothers who grow up in a poor farming family. Nobody expects anything in particular from him, least of all the older brothers, Per and Pål. Ashkeladn takes life in stride and dreams away while fiddling with a stick in the ashes. It turns out that he is neither stupid nor lazy as the brothers think. Yngstemann waits for the right moment and shows both prudence and action when he has to solve the challenges that appear on the road. Some people think that he has more courage than sense, but Askeladden might do well to think a little about the big and small in life by the fireplace before he goes out into the world? His solutions are often creative, and behind his actions there is always a kindness for the people he meets. It is also no secret that he always wins in the end. The reward is usually large amounts of gold and silver or the princess and half the kingdom.

In the adventure room in the National Museum, several of the paintings from the Soria Moria series are on display. In the Study Hall you can see several drawings from the museum's "treasury". These works are very sensitive to light and are therefore rarely exhibited.

Here you can read Theodor Kittelsen's adventure text and follow Askeladden on his journey.

Or read Asbjørnsen and Moe's original version of the adventure.

Date: (1900)

Other titles: Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold (ENG)

Designation: Painting

Material and technique: Oil on canvas

Technique: Oil

Material: Canvas

Dimensions: 45.4 x 68.8 cm

Subject: Visual arts

Classification: 532 - Visual arts

Motif: Landscape

Motif type: Fairy tales and legends

Acquisition: Purchased 1900

Inventory no.: NG.M.00546

Part of exhibition: Art 3. Works from the collection 1814-1950, 2007 - 2011

The dance of life. The collection from antiquity to 1950, 2011 - 2019

Kiss the frog! The art of transformation, 2005

Registration level: Single object

Owner and collection: The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Visual Art Collections

Photo: Høstland, Børre