Studie af en romersk askekiste. Den anden side - iflg. arkkatalog - af den kiste, som er skildret i Td 732,65 recto / kksgb204. 1846

This is Johan Thomas Lundbye’s delicate study of a Roman sarcophagus, rendered in pen and ink. Lundbye, who was born in 1818, belonged to a generation of Danish Golden Age artists who embraced Romantic nationalism. His meticulous sketch reveals more than just the surface of the ancient artifact; it reflects a deep engagement with history and identity. The sarcophagus itself, a vessel for mortal remains, speaks to themes of mortality and memory. Lundbye’s choice to depict it underscores the fascination with antiquity that permeated 19th-century European culture. The detailed rendering of classical motifs—rams’ heads and birds—mirrors a desire to connect with the values and aesthetics of bygone eras. We can feel Lundbye’s emotional investment in Denmark’s cultural heritage. His sketch is not just an image, but an effort to preserve and interpret a shared past.