Onsdag. Merkur sidder med stav og pengepose 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard rendered this ink drawing titled, Onsdag. Merkur sidder med stav og pengepose, which translates to Wednesday. Mercury sitting with staff and money bag. Abildgaard created this drawing during the late 18th century, a period marked by Neoclassical ideals and a growing interest in ancient mythology. As a professor at the Academy, he would have been versed in classical literature and imagery, and figures such as Mercury were often used to allegorize aspects of human nature. Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, communication, and boundaries, sits semi-nude, his body idealized in the style of classical sculpture. In terms of the historical and cultural context, it’s important to remember that Abildgaard created this during a time of significant social and political upheaval with the French Revolution, these classical symbols would have been loaded with contemporary meanings. Consider how Abildgaard uses the image of Mercury to explore themes of trade and wealth. The drawing speaks to the intersection of mythology, art, and the societal values of the time.