Indervæggen med tronstolen. Udkast til dekoration af audienssalen 1790s

Curator: Standing before us is "Indervæggen med tronstolen. Udkast til dekoration af audienssalen," or "The Inner Wall with the Throne. Design for the Decoration of the Audience Hall," by Nicolai Abildgaard, dating from the 1790s. Editor: My first thought is how staged it feels. The throne is like a prop, overshadowed by those large swathes of blue and the excessive drapery. Is it meant to feel imposing, or perhaps theatrical? Curator: I see it as both, really. Think about the function of an audience hall. Abildgaard, steeped in neoclassicism, designs more than just decor. The imposing architectural framework references ancient Roman authority; that lone classical relief above the throne adds gravitas. The throne becomes a fulcrum, visually declaring power. Editor: Yes, and I'm looking at the drawing itself, which is a watercolour and line drawing. Notice how the artist depicts a soft material sensibility, even though it is architectural in design. It really focuses our attention on the potential luxurious materials intended for the hall: heavy drapes, marble pillars, and velvet seating. This is an overt demonstration of wealth in its design. Curator: The symbolism extends beyond material displays. Light plays a crucial role here; notice the contrast of bright yellow to cobalt blue panels. That bright space seems divinely ordained. I can easily see the use of actual candlelight with those elegant candelabras in drawing further to this sense of illuminating power. Editor: Power that’s meticulously planned and performed! This meticulous depiction of future material displays shows it is all carefully considered in the crafting of image. Curator: Agreed! I would add this is about imbuing a sense of cultural continuity through carefully selected imagery. By harking back to those classical motifs, Abildgaard intends to link his patron to that legacy. Editor: And by laying out the materials so clearly, we also see the intent and expenditure to communicate just how serious this supposed continuity really is! Curator: Thinking about the enduring appeal of such deliberate displays of power certainly gives one a lot to consider. Editor: Yes, and it highlights just how carefully wealth is crafted to make these kind of images real.