Sergel arbejder i sit atelier med at hugge en statue af Minerva 1795 - 1800

J.F. Clemens captured Sergel at work on his statue of Minerva in this delicate drawing. Created in an era captivated by classical antiquity, this piece offers a glimpse into the artistic process, but also reflects the societal values and intellectual pursuits of the late 18th century. The choice of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, is itself revealing. In a period marked by political upheaval and enlightenment ideals, Minerva embodied the virtues of reason and civic duty. We are drawn into the intimate world of the artist, but this intimacy is carefully mediated. Note that it is a male gaze on a female form; and also a male artist creating a female deity. The print maintains traditional representations of both labor and femininity, yet hints at the burgeoning discourses of artistic genius and national identity that would come to full force in the following century. It's a window into a world where art, intellect, and power converged.