Artwork
Apollo with his Lyre
Apollo with his Lyre is an unspecified painting by Constantin Hansen. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Greek god Apollo holding his lyre, a symbol of music, poetry and divine harmony that underscores his role as patron of the arts. In mythological context the instrument signifies his cultural authority and the harmonious order he embodies, reflecting the neoclassical ideal of classical antiquity as a source of moral and aesthetic guidance.
Technique & Style
Apollo with his Lyre is classified as a painting and belongs to the genre of mythological painting, depicting the god Apollo with a lyre.
Apollo with his Lyre is classified as a painting and belongs to the genre of mythological painting, depicting the god Apollo with a lyre. The work measures 600 cm in height by 475 cm in width, indicating a very large-scale format. Beyond these basic physical parameters and its medium classification, the available sources do not provide further detail on the specific technique, materials, support, handling, condition, or formal and stylistic qualities of the work.
History & Provenance
The painting Apollo with his Lyre was created by Constantin Hansen in 1846, as indicated by the artist’s date and the work’s inclusion in institutional records. The canvas entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it has remained as part of the national holdings. Its dimensions are recorded as 600 cm in height and 475 cm in width, consistent with the museum’s catalog entry.
Constantin Hansen's 1846 painting, Apollo with his Lyre, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work, which depicts the mythological figure Apollo with a lyre, measures 600 cm in height and 475 cm in width. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers for the piece, nor do they list any exhibition history.
Context
Constantin Hansen's 1846 painting Apollo with his Lyre, housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst, exemplifies the mid-19th-century Danish neoclassical engagement with mythological subjects. The work, depicting the Greek god Apollo holding a lyre, reflects scholarly interest in classical antiquity characteristic of the period's academic art circles. Hansen's composition draws on established iconography of Apollo as a symbol of harmony and artistic inspiration, situating the painting within broader European neoclassical traditions while demonstrating localized Danish artistic sensibilities.
Its creation aligns with the era's academic approaches to mythological narrative, emphasizing clarity of line and idealized form.
Scholarly discourse has examined the work's stylistic qualities and thematic resonance, particularly regarding Hansen's role in advancing historical painting in Denmark. The painting's presence in a national collection underscores its significance as a representative example of mythological art from this period, facilitating ongoing analysis of 19th-century interpretations of classical themes within institutional contexts.
Overview
Created in 1846 by Danish painter Constantin Hansen, Apollo with his Lyre presents a solitary, nude figure poised to play a small harp‑like instrument. The composition isolates the god against a dark, unadorned backdrop, allowing the illuminated musculature and the lyre to dominate the viewer’s attention. The work belongs to the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin Hansen) (3 November 1804 – 29 March 1880) was one of the painters associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting.
