Niels Klim krones til kejser i Qvarma 1787 - 1789

"Niels Klim krones til kejser i Qvarma" (1787-1789) is a preparatory drawing by Danish artist Nicolai Abildgaard (1743-1809), currently housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst. The drawing depicts a scene from the satirical novel "Niels Klim's Underground Journey" by Ludvig Holberg, which tells the story of a young man's fantastical journey through an underground world. In the drawing, Niels Klim, depicted as a nude figure, is crowned as emperor by a kneeling figure, while other figures stand in the background, representing the court of Qvarma. The use of a grid suggests the drawing was likely intended as a preparatory study for a larger work, possibly a painting.