"Mythologie og Historie" 1842 - 1845

This page, titled "Mythology and History," comes from a notebook of the Danish painter Johan Thomas Lundbye, likely produced in the 1840s. It provides a window into the cultural and intellectual landscape that shaped his artistic vision. The list reveals Lundbye's engagement with a range of historical and mythological texts, from classical sources to Norse sagas and contemporary historical accounts. Living in the wake of Romanticism and the rise of nationalism, Lundbye, like many artists of his time, sought inspiration in the past. The references to specific historians and writers suggest a deliberate attempt to ground his artistic practice in scholarly research and intellectual inquiry. As art historians, we can use these sources to understand the specific historical and cultural context of his art. By researching the books Lundbye consulted, we can gain insights into the visual and literary sources that informed his artistic imagination, deepening our understanding of the social forces that shaped his creative output.