Draperistudie med elefantordenens stjerne 1726 - 1776

Peder Als created this drapery study in black and white chalk, likely during the 1750s or 60s, while studying at the Copenhagen Academy. Here we see a length of fabric, carefully arranged to display the star of the Order of the Elephant. This was Denmark's highest honor, reserved for royalty and a select group of nobles and foreign heads of state. Als’s decision to depict this exclusive symbol is revealing. The Academy played a key role in shaping artistic taste and promoting loyalty to the crown. Students were trained in specific techniques, like drapery studies, to prepare them for commissions that would glorify the monarchy and reinforce social hierarchies. Als's study, therefore, reflects the Academy's investment in upholding traditional power structures. To fully understand this drawing, we can delve into the Academy's archives, tracing its curriculum and the careers of its graduates. This kind of research helps us see beyond the surface, revealing the complex relationship between art, power, and social control.