The olymp 1820

Eugen Eduard Schäffer created this pencil drawing, ‘The Olymp,’ which resides here at the Städel Museum. The composition depicts the classical pantheon of gods, their arrangement reminiscent of ancient friezes. Note the centrality of a seated female figure, perhaps Hera, cradling a smaller figure. This echoes the iconic pose of Madonna and Child. This is a motif that transcends cultures, representing maternal care. Kneeling before her, we see another figure in supplication. This recalls countless images of devotion across eras, from religious icons to secular appeals. The image, though a sketch, pulses with a longing for a connection to the divine. Such a powerful emotional current can evoke deeply buried memories and desires within us. This image, in its cyclical progression, represents a constant human need to connect with, and visualize the divine, a theme that echoes and reinvents itself across time.