Artwork
Apollon og Hermes
Apollon og Hermes is an unspecified painting by the German Romanticist artist Constantin Hansen. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work serves as a visual interpretation of these mythological characters, bringing the ancient stories into a 19th-century artistic context.
Constantin Hansen's 1849 painting depicts the Greek deities Apollo and Hermes. As a work of mythological genre, the piece visually represents these two specific figures from classical antiquity. The inclusion of both gods suggests a narrative scene drawn from ancient lore, focusing on their interaction or shared presence.
The work serves as a visual interpretation of these mythological characters, bringing the ancient stories into a 19th-century artistic context.
History & Provenance
Constantin Hansen created the mythological painting Apollon og Hermes in 1849. The work depicts the figures of Apollo and Hermes. Since its inception, the painting has been held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.
The painting Apollon og Hermes is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work, created by Constantin Hansen in 1849, depicts the mythological figures Apollo and Hermes. While the museum's ownership is established, the provided records do not contain specific inventory numbers or details regarding the artwork's exhibition history.
Overview
Created in 1849 by Constantin Hansen, a central painter of Denmark’s Golden Age, this oil work portrays two nude male figures set against a modest landscape of hill and grass. The composition draws directly from classical mythology, presenting the Greek deities Apollo and Hermes in a quiet, outdoor moment.
Technique & Style
Executed with the soft modeling and clear contours typical of Romantic historicism, Hansen employs a restrained palette that emphasizes the flesh tones of the figures against the muted earth of the background. The careful rendering of the drapery and the delicate treatment of the lyre reflect the artist’s academic training.
Context
Although rooted in Greek mythology, the work aligns with the 19th‑century Danish interest in national identity, as Hansen simultaneously explored Norse legends in other commissions. The piece exemplifies the era’s fascination with romanticized antiquity and continues to serve as a reference point for studies of mythological representation in Danish Golden Age painting.
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.
Apollo with his Lyre
Apollo with his Lyre
Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne
Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne
Mars, Venus og Amor
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Athene followed by Nike Disputing with Poseidon for Possession of Attica
Mars, Venus og Amor