Where myth meets stone, and imagination takes flight.
The Millesgården Sculpture Park was created by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles and his wife Olga. In 1906, they purchased a plot of land on the island of Lidingö near Stockholm with the goal of building a home, studio, and sculpture garden. Carl Milles, who became one of Sweden’s most renowned sculptors, filled the park with replicas of his works scattered around the world, using the island’s natural elevation to design terraces with fountains and sculptures.
In 1936, the couple donated the park to the Swedish people, making it open to visitors. After returning from the United States, Milles added replicas of his monumental works to the park, and after his death, he was buried there alongside his wife. In 1999, an art museum was opened on the grounds to host exhibitions and displays.
Main Sculptures and Themes at Millesgården
The Hand of God — the centerpiece of the composition is a giant human hand, in the palm of which stands a small, expressive human figure. The sculpture symbolizes the infinity of the human soul and the feeling of being at the center of an immense universe.
Poseidon — the god of the sea from ancient mythology, one of Milles’s monumental works.
Man and Pegasus (1949) — this sculptural group depicts Pegasus as a symbol of imagination and the longing for freedom. According to myth, Pegasus was the winged horse given by Poseidon to his son Bellerophon, who attempted to fly to Olympus but fell.
Europa and the Bull — represents the myth of the abduction of the Phoenician princess Europa by Zeus, who took the form of a beautiful bull. In the sculpture, the bull gently licks the princess’s hand, symbolizing the mythical story.
Figures of dancing and flute-playing angels — small sculptures that create an atmosphere of lightness and enchantment.