Artwork
The Goddess Ceres
The Goddess Ceres is a photography by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1719 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1719 by the artist known as 924_person, The Goddess Ceres is an oil painting presently in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts a solitary female figure seated amid a verdant landscape, rendered with a calm, contemplative demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as Ceres, the Roman deity of agriculture, signified by a wheat crown and a sickle held in her right hand. Her relaxed posture and serene expression convey the abundance and stability associated with the harvest goddess.
Technique & Style
The composition employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the figure’s form and to give depth to the surrounding trees, hills, and cloud‑filled sky. This lighting scheme draws attention to the goddess’s face and hands, emphasizing her symbolic attributes.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in the early eighteenth century, the painting has remained in institutional care, eventually entering the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. Documentation traces its acquisition to the museum’s early collection development, though earlier ownership details are not recorded.
Artist & collection
