Ossian Singing His Swan Song 1780 - 1782

"Ossian Singing His Swan Song" is an oil painting created between 1780 and 1782 by Danish artist Nicolai Abildgaard. The painting depicts the legendary Celtic bard Ossian, who is known for his epic poems about the ancient heroes of Ireland and Scotland. Ossian is portrayed as an elderly man, seated on a rock with a harp, singing a final song before his death. The painting is housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is a notable example of the Neoclassical style. Abildgaard was a leading figure in the Danish art scene and his use of idealized figures and a dramatic composition in this artwork reflects the influence of Classical Antiquity and the Enlightenment.