Pax trimphans 1786 - 1789

Nicolai Abildgaard made this drawing, "Pax trimphans," using pen and brown ink on paper. It’s a classical scene, rendered with quick, assured strokes. The thinness of the lines gives the whole composition a fleet, dynamic quality. You can almost feel the movement of the chariot, the wind in the figures’ drapery. Abildgaard’s technique, with its emphasis on confident lines, reflects a trained hand. We can see the influence of academic drawing practices, where mastery of line was considered fundamental. While the subject is high-minded, a celebration of peace, the drawing’s materiality hints at the labor and skill involved in its creation. The ink, likely mixed by hand, and the paper, carefully chosen for its texture and ability to receive the artist’s marks, speaks volumes about the value placed on craft and artistic expertise in Abildgaard’s time. In the end, it is the relationship between the artist’s skill, the chosen materials, and the historical context that truly brings this artwork to life.