Who painted The Establishment of Schools?

The Establishment of Schools was painted by Nicolai Abildgaard in 1791.

Where can I see The Establishment of Schools?

The Establishment of Schools is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Establishment of Schools?

The Establishment of Schools is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

The Establishment of Schools

Nicolai Abildgaard , 1791

The Establishment of Schools is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Nicolai Abildgaard. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Nicolai Abildgaard’s 1791 oil on canvas, *The Establishment of Schools*, presents a staged gathering of figures dressed in garments reminiscent of antiquity. Central to the composition is a seated woman absorbed in a book, surrounded by attentive onlookers. The setting is suffused with a warm, yellowish light, and objects such as a globe and a scroll underscore the theme of learning.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualizes the founding of an educational institution, using classical attire to link contemporary enlightenment ideals with ancient traditions of knowledge. The woman, likely a personification of wisdom, directs the focus toward the text, while the surrounding figures embody students or patrons, suggesting a communal commitment to intellectual cultivation and moral instruction.

Technique & Style

Executed in the neoclassical manner, the painting employs clear, linear contours and a restrained palette that highlights the figures against the luminous background. Abildgaard’s handling of oil creates a smooth surface, allowing subtle modeling of flesh and drapery, while the careful placement of symbolic props—globe, scroll—reinforces the didactic narrative.

History & Provenance

Created while Abildgaard served as professor at the New Royal Danish Academy of Art, the canvas reflects his role in shaping Danish academic art. After remaining in private or royal collections, the painting entered the holdings of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it continues to represent the artist’s contribution to Denmark’s neoclassical heritage.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolai Abildgaard

Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard (11 September 1743 – 4 June 1809) was a Danish neoclassical and royal history painter, sculptor, architect, and professor of painting, mythology, and anatomy at the New Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen…