A genio lumen. En siddende kvinde skriver, til højre for denne gyder en anden kvinde olie på en lampe 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard created this drawing depicting two women, one writing and the other pouring oil into a lamp. Light, or "lumen," is central here, not merely as illumination but as a symbol of enlightenment and intellectual pursuit. Consider the lamp, reminiscent of ancient votive offerings, continually fueled to sustain its flame. This recalls similar motifs where fire represents divine presence or inspiration. Think of the eternal flame in temples or the candles lit in remembrance. Abildgaard, deeply influenced by classical antiquity, uses this imagery to connect the act of writing with a higher, almost sacred calling. The act of sustaining the light itself becomes a crucial element. What is being illuminated is the crucial aspect. In this image, knowledge and intellectual pursuits are deemed sacred. This image showcases the cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing and evolving across time.