In The Power and the Glory, we get a glimpse of what the Vasa’s colors really looked like when the ship sailed out of Stockholm’s harbor. Like the hull of the Vasa, the sculptures today have a dark brown color, shaped by time underwater and conservation efforts. But research shows a very different picture of the ship. The Vasa sparkled with color!
Over twelve years, around 1,200 microscopic paint fragments have been analyzed and interpreted. About fifteen key sculptures have been reconstructed to show how they were originally painted. The exhibition also includes a slideshow on eight large screens, where the Vasa's sculptures are placed in their historical context.
In the 17th century, ship decoration reached its peak. For Sweden, which was sparsely populated and relatively unknown, and for the king Gustav II Adolf with his great power ambitions, it was important to convey the nation's strength and its military and political resources through the ship’s sculptures.
