Who painted Maxentius?

Maxentius was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Maxentius?

Maxentius is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Maxentius

Maxentius is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750 by the artist identified as 756_person, “Maxentius” is a black‑and‑white image in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition captures a tense struggle between two male figures in shallow water, rendered with stark contrasts that emphasize the physical conflict and the surrounding turbulent surface.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a wrestling match in which one participant lies on his back, legs thrashing, while his opponent secures him with an arm and a grip on his hair. The presence of a partially submerged boat suggests a broader narrative context, perhaps alluding to themes of competition, survival, or mythic confrontation.

Technique & Style

The image relies on pronounced chiaroscuro, employing deep shadows against bright highlights to model the bodies and the water’s surface. This dramatic lighting isolates the figures, intensifying the sense of movement and tension, while the rough water and splashes convey kinetic energy within a static medium.

History & Provenance

“Maxentius” entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings after its creation in the mid‑18th century, though details of its acquisition remain undocumented. The work’s attribution to 756_person reflects cataloguing conventions rather than a widely recognized name, indicating a possible anonymous or lesser‑known creator.

Context

The mid‑1700s saw increasing interest in ethnographic documentation and the visual study of physical culture. This image aligns with that trend, presenting a vivid, almost theatrical depiction of bodily contest that may have served both illustrative and didactic purposes within contemporary collections.