This exquisite late-19th-century illustration by Swedish artist David Ljungdahl (1870-1940) depicts a view in Stockholm. Ljungdahl was an accomplished painter, illustrator and entomologist.Ljungdahl’s rendering of this extensive scene captures the minutiae with precise handling and careful observation. The details are extraordinary. Ahead, we see the grand exterior of the Royal Palace, the official residence of the monarch. While on the right, numerous figures promenade on the small island of Helgeandsholmen before the Parliament House, an impressive neo-Baroque edifice. However, all is not what it seems as the parliament building was completed in 1905 and the work is signed 1898. Hence, it’s plausible that Ljungdahl was working with an architect to create a vision of the completed project. On close inspection, there are some minor differences between the finished design and this proposal, including the addition of two finials at either end.Born in Motala, Sweden, Ljungdahl...