Antikt gadebillede. Formodentlig et forarbejde til Terentsbilledet med den lyttene Chremes 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard made this street scene drawing as a preparatory study, likely for his painting on a theme from the Roman playwright Terence. Abildgaard, working in late 18th-century Denmark, was a leading figure in introducing Neoclassicism to the country. Here, he renders classical architecture with a linear precision that evokes the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. Abildgaard's meticulous draftsmanship aimed to revive classical values of reason, order, and civic virtue, which were seen as antidotes to the decadence of the aristocracy. This drawing underscores the prevailing social and cultural values of the Enlightenment era, which emphasized rationality and a return to the perceived purity of classical forms. Art academies of the time promoted these values as a means of shaping public taste and moral standards. By examining Abildgaard's other works, along with the art criticism and historical records of his era, we can further appreciate how his art engaged with the intellectual and political currents of his time.