Magnus (1805-1868) was the oldest of the three von Wright brothers. In 1831, he settled in Helsinki. He first worked as a cartographer in a land survey office, then as the taxidermist for the Zoological Museum and from 1847 on as the University draftsman. Magnus earned extra money by giving drawing lessons; he himself could barely afford to study art. He had studied landscape painting for a while in a private art school in Stockholm, whilst honing his natural talent through his studies of birds and landscapes,

but it was not until 1857 that he was able to travel to Düsseldorf for a couple of months' study.
     Magnus lived at various addresses in Helsinki and, with his fascination for light conditions, liked to paint the view from his window at different times of the day throughout the year. The artist also took on commissions to paint landscapes of estates. Altogether 72 of Magnus von Wright's drawings, watercolours and oil paintings are to be found in the Museum's collection.