Prydvase med to hoveder og to vandnymfer. Kopi efter Pl. 20 i suiten af de i 1746 af Saly tegnede vaser. "Vasa a se inventa..." 1746 - 1846

This drawing of a vase with two heads and water nymphs, now in the collection of the SMK in Denmark, is a copy of plate 20 from a suite of vases designed by Saly in 1746. We might consider why this drawing was made and collected. It certainly speaks to the 18th-century fashion for the decorative arts and the rising status of the artist. This interest in design was fostered by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1754, which played a key role in shaping artistic taste and promoting national artistic identity through the education of artists and artisans. In the context of expanding European empires, this kind of drawing also raises questions about cultural exchange and the circulation of artistic ideas. Images like this one could be used to understand better the flow of designs and artistic influence during this period. To explore these themes further, consider delving into the archives of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. These archives could reveal much about the values and priorities of the artistic establishment during this time.