Hyachinthos, Apollons yngling, Narcissus, hvilende ved bækken 1743 - 1809

This pen and ink drawing by Danish artist Nicolai Abildgaard, titled "Hyachinthos, Apollons yngling, Narcissus, hvilende ved bækken" (Hyacinth, Apollo's Favorite, Narcissus, Resting by the Stream), depicts the Greek mythological figure Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. The artist captures Narcissus's fascination with his image as he rests by a stream, a prominent feature of the scene. Abildgaard, a key figure in Danish Neoclassicism, masterfully portrays the subject with a focus on classical ideals of beauty and form. The artwork, housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), is a testament to Abildgaard's mastery of pen and ink techniques and his enduring fascination with classical mythology.