Udkast til det Gandilske gravmæle, på Assistens kirkegård. Facaden med sarkofag, hvorpå relief med mand, kvinde og 3 børn. 1748 - 1823

Curator: Here we have Christian Bernhard Hornbech’s "Udkast til det Gandilske gravmæle, på Assistens kirkegård. Facaden med sarkofag, hvorpå relief med mand, kvinde og 3 børn." a drawing of a tomb facade from sometime between 1748 and 1823. Editor: My initial reaction is one of classical solemnity. The composition, with its stark symmetry and muted tones, creates a sense of dignified stillness. Curator: Absolutely. The piece resonates strongly with Neoclassical ideals, reflecting an era that turned to antiquity for its aesthetic and moral compass. I see a statement about the bourgeois family in the Danish Golden Age, and its ideals about the consolidation of the nuclear family and its place in society. Editor: Agreed. The structure, with its clear lines and geometric precision, speaks to the values of order and reason that the style embodies. Semiotically, the triangular pediment is the central element. What is its philosophical impact? Curator: Well, bearing in mind this is a draft for a tomb facade, the symbolism is intriguing. We're presented with a family scene, an almost utopian tableau of domesticity immortalized on the very structure meant to house mortality. Think of it in terms of societal power structures— who got to have their families and legacies presented like this, literally in stone? Editor: True, the materiality combined with the symbolic family grouping makes an interesting comment. This piece appears to explore universal themes of life and death—presented as a unified and eternal architectural design. Curator: Furthermore, consider the choice of depicting family—a very specific family! What statements were made about social structures and identity by enshrining this image for all of posterity? Editor: Indeed. And to build on your point, observe the interplay of light and shadow, particularly the strong geometric shadows, suggesting volume and reinforcing the somber yet stable tone. Curator: Looking at it this way emphasizes the deeply felt values placed upon the patriarchy and family, doesn’t it? Thank you for guiding me into that perspective! Editor: The pleasure was all mine. Seeing this again reinforces my interest in this specific formal architectural depiction and its themes of structure.