Forsiden af den antikke skulptur ’Belvedere Antinous’ set halvt vendt mod venstre 1628 - 1630

Willem Panneels made this drawing of the antique sculpture 'Belvedere Antinous' in the 17th century. The original sculpture which Panneels depicts, found in the Vatican, carries significant historical weight. In Panneels' time, classical sculpture, especially that of the male nude, was highly prized for its perceived embodiment of ideal beauty and was viewed as a moral exemplar. Panneels was Flemish, but he undertook commissions across Europe, for patrons who were keen to amass collections of classical art. The artist's rendering of the sculpture is made through careful visual codes which emphasise the play of light and shadow on the figure's body. The sculpture represented a figure of power, both aesthetic and political, that European elites wanted to align themselves with. Understanding the social and institutional context is vital. Art historians consult inventories, letters, and other documents to explore the meaning of art as something shaped by the culture and institutions of its time.