The First Count in Sweden

Per Brahe the Elder is here depicted in a composition earlier primarily reserved for rulers. Per Brahe, the cousin of Erik XIV, was considered as one of the most learned men of his time. His work "Oeconomia" about the education of the young nobility and how to cultivate your land gained a large respons during his lifetime and later during the 17th century. Oeconomia is influenced by and often refers to "Castigliones Il libro del Cortegiano", which shows how the new ideas of the Italian renaissance had spread even to the most Northern parts of Europe. At the coronation of King Erik XIV Per Brahe was appointed Count, the first to recieve the title in Sweden.