En vædder 1748 - 1831

J.F. Clemens made this drawing of a ram with pencil on paper at an unknown date. The image depicts a ram in a field near a village. This drawing reflects the growth of agriculture as an important element of Danish national identity in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The emphasis on livestock connects to the economic interests of the landowning class during that period. It also alludes to the central place of farming in rural life and social structures. Clemens was a court painter, which means he had strong ties to the Danish monarchy. This work may reflect a conscious desire to idealize the countryside and legitimize the social hierarchy by depicting the harmony of the rural landscape. The image prompts important questions for the art historian: What were the social functions of art in Denmark at this time? How did the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts support the monarchy? What did it mean to be a ‘Danish’ artist? Resources in the museum’s library can help to answer such questions.