Apostlen Peter 1868 - 1871

Wilhelm Marstrand created this drawing of the Apostle Peter at an unknown date, with a pencil. Marstrand was working in a Denmark still finding its feet after the Napoleonic wars. The Lutheran church was the state religion, and religious imagery, particularly of biblical figures, served a public role. The bare feet and simple robe are typical visual codes of humility. Without more information, it's difficult to know if this drawing was a study for a larger work, or intended as a piece in itself. It's a good example of the kind of work that would have been displayed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, which sought to elevate public taste through exposure to fine art. Historical research into Marstrand's other works, and the artistic and religious culture of 19th century Denmark, might reveal more about the drawing's purpose. Art, as we see it, is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was made.