Thorvaldsens ligfærd 1844

Editor: This is "Thorvaldsens ligfærd," or "Thorvaldsen's Funeral" by Joel Ballin, a lithograph and engraving from 1844. It feels so formal, almost staged in its presentation. What do you see in this piece, Professor? Curator: It's fascinating how Ballin compartmentalizes the solemnity of the event. See how each tier holds different facets: the statues themselves, then the public procession, finally culminating in the inner sanctum? These aren't just scenes, they’re like symbolic weights. Notice the statues and how they're framed. Who is celebrated here? Editor: It's definitely Thorvaldsen—we see the procession carrying his body. Is the emphasis on the statuary around the portrait meant to represent his legacy? Curator: Precisely! Ballin is using a powerful visual language to equate Thorvaldsen with the ideals embodied in his art – classical beauty, civic virtue, enduring fame. It is almost as if Thorvaldsen is ascending, becoming part of this permanent cultural landscape. The portrait enclosed within the wreath is key. Wreaths are typically funereal but it seems that he is reborn into immortality through his works. Is this not a potent representation of cultural memory? Editor: It's like he's trying to capture not just the funeral, but also how Thorvaldsen will be remembered. Thank you! I'll remember the layers of symbolism to enrich my studies. Curator: A fruitful avenue to explore. Each tier serves as a visual marker of how cultural figures transcend mortality.