Aurora. Udkast til frontonrelief på Harsdorffs palæ, Kgs. Nytorv 1780 - 1783

This drawing by Johannes Wiedewelt is a sketch for a pediment relief on the Harsdorff Palace in Copenhagen. We are looking at the classical figure of Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, who announces the arrival of the sun each morning. Wiedewelt was Denmark’s leading sculptor during the late 18th century, and he was a key figure in introducing neoclassical style to the country. Neoclassicism, with its emphasis on the art of ancient Greece and Rome, was often associated with the political ideals of the Enlightenment, such as reason, order, and democracy. But in monarchical Denmark, neoclassicism was used to associate the ruling elite with the glory of the ancient world, thereby legitimizing their power. Art historians often consult a variety of sources, such as letters, diaries, and official documents, in order to understand how artworks functioned within their specific social and political contexts. In this way, we can better understand the complex relationship between art and power in 18th-century Denmark.