The Marine Painter Per Wilhelm Cedergren (Stockholm 1820–1896 Spånga) was intimately associated with the marine world from childhood. At the age of nine, Cedergren was enrolled as one of the crown's ship's boys. His talent for drawing was noticed, and after a few years he was given work drawing templates when ships were to be built. When Cedergren was twenty, a folklorist visited his parents' home and noticed a painting on the wall that Cedergren had painted. He was then offered free tuition for three months at the Academy of Fine Arts' Sunday school.

Cedergren's marine paintings are usually documentary depictions of ships and boats, especially in the Stockholm area. He also made many ship portraits, probably to order. The royal family bought several of his paintings, and Charles XV even bought him a small farm outside Drottningholm.

Cedergren is represented at the National Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Nordic Museum.