Religiøs allegori. Tre kvinder stiger med tilbedende gestus op ad nogle trin, den første bærer en bakke med en lampe og en kande 1743 - 1809

Curator: The artwork before us, crafted by Nicolai Abildgaard between 1743 and 1809, is entitled "Religiøs allegori. Tre kvinder stiger med tilbedende gestus op ad nogle trin, den første bærer en bakke med en lampe og en kande." In English, that translates to "Religious allegory. Three women ascend steps with worshipping gestures, the first carrying a tray with a lamp and a pitcher". It's currently housed here at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. What are your initial impressions? Editor: It feels fragile, almost ethereal. The monochromatic drawing on paper gives it a sense of quiet contemplation. There's a powerful, if understated, solemnity about the figures. Their upward gaze suggests devotion, maybe even yearning. Curator: Abildgaard was deeply immersed in neoclassicism. The rendering of the figures reflects classical ideals but serves a function. Notice how they're ascending steps toward a barely visible cross, suggesting a kind of pilgrimage. The pitcher and lamp held by the first figure? Editor: Ah, those elements add layers of symbolic interpretation, no? The lamp might represent enlightenment, knowledge sought through faith, and the pitcher potentially alluding to purity or ritual cleansing. It's a blend of classical form serving a spiritual, rather than a purely aesthetic purpose. Curator: Exactly. The neo-classical aesthetic served a precise socio-political role. This wasn't simply about reviving Greek and Roman forms. By evoking the past, Abildgaard aimed to instil moral virtue and civic responsibility, speaking to a period ripe with revolution and social upheaval. And though it's a study in drawing form, this piece embodies elements we observe across history painting of the time. Editor: This piece truly exemplifies how a simple sketch can hold the weight of historical and symbolic complexity. I’m left with a sense of hopeful struggle, that upward climb toward… something beyond. Curator: Precisely. The symbolism speaks to that yearning, using classical form to present those eternal themes in the historical context, offering us both familiarity and depth, even today.