Artwork
A Stout Roman Woman Being Helped onto a Donkey
A Stout Roman Woman Being Helped onto a Donkey is an unspecified painting by Wilhelm Marstrand. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
A Stout Roman Woman Being Helped onto a Donkey is an 1854 painting by Wilhelm Marstrand, a key figure in the Golden Age of Danish Painting. The work captures a mundane yet intimate moment of human interaction within a classical setting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a stout woman, aided by a man, mounting a donkey, with bystanders including a boy and a woman with a baby. The scene emphasizes everyday assistance and historical reconstruction, reflecting Marstrand's interest in narrative and human connection.
Technique & Style
While specific technical details of the painting are not highlighted, Marstrand's characteristic attention to narrative detail is evident in the composition, with a focus on the gentle, guiding gesture of the man and the patient donkey, set against a serene backdrop of buildings and a blue sky.
History & Provenance
Created in 1854, the painting falls within a period of Danish art focused on national identity and cultural heritage. The current location or ownership of the painting is not specified.
Context
The work reflects the broader artistic trends of its time, with Marstrand drawing on classical themes to explore themes of community and daily life, characteristic of the Golden Age of Danish Painting's emphasis on both historical and contemporary subjects.
Legacy
As part of Marstrand's oeuvre, the painting contributes to his reputation for detailed, narrative-driven works. However, its specific impact or recognition within his body of work or the broader art historical canon is not detailed.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolai Wilhelm Marstrand (24 December 1810 – 25 March 1873), painter and illustrator, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Nicolai Jacob Marstrand, instrument maker and inventor, and Petra Othilia Smith.
Portrait of Otto Marstrand's two daughters and their nanny
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Eve Tempts Adam
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Fuga lui Iacov
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Near the barrel under the enclosure
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Don Quixote at the Inn (from Cervantes' novel)
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A Stout Roman Woman Being Helped onto a Donkey