"Silenus/ Virgil. Bucolia Ecloga 6." 1794

Johannes Wiedewelt created this wash drawing called “Silenus/ Virgil. Bucolica Ecloga 6.” in 1794. It depicts a scene inspired by Virgil's pastoral poems, which experienced a revival in the 18th century. Wiedewelt, a key figure in Danish Neoclassicism, engaged with classical themes to explore contemporary ideas about virtue and the ideal self. In this drawing, we see Silenus, a figure known for wisdom and drunkenness, being bound by youths, while a woman pours liquid into his mouth to wake him. Note the gender dynamics at play; the youths actively restrain Silenus, while the woman seems to be the gentler caregiver. It suggests a tension between restraint and care, force, and nurture. Wiedewelt invites us to reflect on the balance of power, and how societal roles are expressed through gender and action. The artist used the historical context of Virgil's text to comment on his contemporary society.