Artwork
Julia and Fulvia
Julia and Fulvia is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Nicolai Abildgaard. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition serves as a historical representation of the tension between these prominent female figures during the era of the Second Triumvirate.
The painting depicts the historical figures Fulvia and Julia, deriving its narrative basis from the play Le Triumvirat. Created in 1803, the work visualizes a specific dramatic moment involving these two women, who were central figures in the political conflicts of the late Roman Republic. While traditionally associated with Nicolai Abildgaard, scholarship suggests the piece may instead be the production of one of his students, reflecting the pedagogical environment of the artist's workshop rather than the master's direct hand.
The composition serves as a historical representation of the tension between these prominent female figures during the era of the Second Triumvirate.
Technique & Style
Julia and Fulvia is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1803. The work measures approximately 47.7 cm in height and 48.2 cm in width. As indicated by its material description, the artist used oil paint applied to a woven canvas support.
The composition is based on the earlier work Le Triumvirat, which informs its subject matter and likely its formal arrangement. No specific details about the artist’s handling, surface condition, or stylistic nuances are provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
Created in 1803, this oil painting on canvas depicts the historical figures Julia and Fulvia. While the work has traditionally been attributed to the Danish artist Nicolai Abildgaard, modern scholarship suggests it was likely executed by a student of his rather than the master himself. The composition is based on the subject of Le Triumvirat.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is cataloged under the inventory number KMS3723.
The painting Julia and Fulvia is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst. Its inventory number is KMS3723. The work has been exhibited in the museum's presentation of 19th-century art. It was previously attributed to Nicolai Abildgaard but is now considered likely to be the work of one of his students.
Overview
Created in 1803, Julia and Fultra is an oil painting by Danish artist Nicolai Abildgaard, a leading figure of the Neoclassical movement and professor at the New Royal Danish Academy of Art. The work presents two female figures in a dimly lit interior, rendered with a restrained palette that emphasizes form and gesture over decorative detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard (11 September 1743 – 4 June 1809) was a Danish neoclassical and royal history painter, sculptor, architect, and professor of painting, mythology, and anatomy at the New Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen…
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