Hersilia 1847

Editor: Here we have Fritz Thomsen’s “Hersilia” from 1847, an oil painting currently residing in the SMK. It's... well, it's a horse in a stable. There's a kind of stillness about it, a quiet dignity. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: That stillness, yes, it's pregnant with something, isn’t it? A hushed anticipation, almost theatrical. For me, it evokes that fascinating moment before action. Notice how the muted palette focuses our attention purely on the animal. It is as if the artist is looking within, showing not just horseflesh but *horseness*. It makes me wonder, what does the word "Hersilia" bring to your mind? Editor: Actually, I don't know! Is it significant, should I? Curator: Hersilia, in Roman mythology, was the wife of Romulus, a figure of peace and mediation. Given the social and political upheavals brewing in Europe around 1847, could Thomsen be suggesting that even the noblest creature awaits a role to play? Or am I galloping away with myself again? Editor: I never would've made that connection on my own. Knowing that makes it feel less like just a horse portrait and more like…a silent plea for something. Curator: Precisely! That's what makes art so rewarding. And perhaps Thomsen just loved horses. Sometimes, a horse is just a horse...or is it? Editor: Maybe not! Thanks for opening up "Hersilia" in a new way for me. Curator: My pleasure, sometimes looking carefully is the best way to discover what lies within.