Sorgenfri Slot 1740s

This is Bartholomæus Roque's "Sorgenfri Slot," an etching rendered around the mid-18th century. Dominating the scene is the castle itself, set amidst a meticulously arranged landscape—a symbol of cultivated dominion over nature. Note the figures populating the foreground. They gesture, converse, and observe, inviting us into this constructed vista. One might see echoes of Arcadian ideals here, where man lives in harmony with a nature that is, ironically, highly controlled. The very act of viewing and documenting this estate bears a connection to the "veduta" tradition, where picturesque scenes serve not just as records but as assertions of power and prestige. Consider too the frame, adorned with foliage and heraldic elements. These serve to elevate the scene, connecting it to a lineage of representation that dates back to classical friezes and Renaissance tapestries. These symbols transcend their immediate context, evoking a longing for an idealised past and resonating with the collective memory of power, status and cultivated taste.