Standardization of Weights and Measures in 1683 1784

Nicolai Abildgaard's "Standardization of Weights and Measures in 1683" (1784) is a Neoclassical relief depicting the importance of standardized measurement. It depicts a seated female figure, likely representing Justice or Truth, holding a scale and a measuring rod. Two figures flanking her work with implements, one a blacksmith at an anvil and the other with a bucket and rod, symbolizing the standardization of weight and volume. This work was created during the Enlightenment era when the concept of standardized measurement gained significant importance across Europe. It is currently displayed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Denmark, where it continues to be a testament to the pursuit of accuracy and uniformity in the 18th century.