Artwork
Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne
Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Eric Paulsen. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows Mercury in the act of persuading Psyche to journey onward toward the gods, a moment drawn from mythological narrative.
The work shows Mercury in the act of persuading Psyche to journey onward toward the gods, a moment drawn from mythological narrative. It portrays the divine messenger alongside the mortal Psyche, emphasizing the transition from earthly trial to celestial ascent. The composition underscores themes of guidance, transformation, and the soul's progression within the mythic framework.
The painting measures 2475 cm in height and 1735 cm in width, executed in oil on canvas in 1782.
It is housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on public view as part of its mythological holdings.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium consistent with Erik Pauelsen's mythological compositions of the period. According to the catalogue record, the canvas measures 247.5 cm in height by 173.5 cm in width, giving it a tall, vertically oriented format suited to its figural subject.
As a mythological painting, the work belongs to the genre of history painting in the late-eighteenth-century Danish tradition, depicting Mercury persuading Psyche to accompany him to the gods. No further details regarding handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne was created by Eric Paulsen in 1782. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 247.5 cm in height and 173.5 cm in width. It depicts the mythological figures Mercury and Psyche. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
The painting Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. Created in 1782 by Eric Paulsen, the work is an oil on canvas depicting the mythological figures Mercury and Psyche. The piece measures 247.5 cm in height and 173.5 cm in width.
While the sources confirm the museum's ownership and the work's physical dimensions, no specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available documentation. Furthermore, the provided sources do not list any exhibition history for this specific artwork.
Overview
Erik Pauelsen’s oil painting Merkur overtaler Psyke til at følge ham til guderne (1792) presents the mythological encounter between Mercury and Psyche set against a softly lit landscape. The composition places the two figures in the foreground, with rolling hills and a cloudy sky forming a tranquil backdrop that frames the narrative moment.
Context
Created toward the end of the 18th century, the painting reflects the continued interest in classical mythology within Danish art circles. Its Rococo sensibility aligns with the decorative tastes of the era, while the subject’s emphasis on love and divine ascent resonates with Enlightenment ideas about reason, emotion, and the human soul’s aspirations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Erik Pauelsen (2 or 14 October 1749 – 20 February 1790) was a Danish painter. He is most notable for his landscapes and was also a popular portraitist. However, he did not experience the same level of success as Jens…
