Sergel arbejder i sit atelier med at hugge en statue af Minerva 1795 - 1800

J.F. Clemens made this drawing of Sergel working in his studio on a statue of Minerva. Made in Denmark, this image gives us a glimpse into the 18th-century art world and its relationship to classical ideals. Note how the artist, Sergel, is depicted in the midst of creation, hammering away at the stone. The statue itself, Minerva, is a figure from Roman mythology, associated with wisdom, warfare, and crafts. The choice of this subject reflects the Neoclassical movement's fascination with antiquity, which shaped art academies, royal collections, and public taste. The use of classical imagery was not merely aesthetic; it was also used to evoke ideas of civic virtue, reason, and order, qualities that were seen as essential to the progress of society. As art historians, our understanding of this work is enriched through archival research, studying the artist’s biography, and examining the cultural context in which it was created. This helps us interpret the image, and understand the values and aspirations of the time.