Fredens Genius 1807

"Fredens Genius" is an 1807 etching by Danish artist Oluf Olufsen Bagge (1780-1836). The artwork depicts an angelic figure flying over a fleet of ships with the text "How flies it now!" below. The piece is housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The artwork is a depiction of peace, likely inspired by the Napoleonic Wars, which would have been occurring at the time. The figure is symbolic of peace, perhaps even a personification of peace. The etching would have been a popular choice for collectors in the early 19th century, with its combination of political commentary and religious imagery.