St Hallvard, Original

The original drawing of St Hallvard. Thousands of dots from archival ink, on high quality Canson 100% cotton paper. 

About the motif

“Oslo has no coat of arms”

Or so the slightly grumpy like to say. But Oslo does, in fact, have a city seal, dating back to the 14th century or thereabouts. On it stands none other than our patron saint, Hallvard, who valiantly—but unsuccessfully—tried to save a pregnant thrall woman from so-called wrongdoers. Hallvard himself met a grim fate: an arrow to the throat, followed by an attempt to sink him with a millstone around his neck. He floated, of course, which rather conveniently earned him sainthood.

The city seal has seen many variations over the centuries. At one point, Hallvard even took on the guise of a goddess—Fortuna—because Protestant Kristiania couldn’t very well have a Catholic saint. The motif in use today has existed since 1890.

My interpretation draws on one of the early versions: a somewhat feminine Hallvard. I like him that way. My Saint Hallvard is ready to grace the walls of Oslo patriots.

“Unanimiter et constanter Oslo”
(“United and steadfast, Oslo”)