Detalje af låg fra Frederik IIs kiste i Roskilde Domkirke 1851

Jacob Kornerup made this print, "Detail of the lid from Frederik II's coffin in Roskilde Cathedral," with etching. Here, we see an image of a European monarch, Frederik II, lying in state; praying for forgiveness, wearing the armor that signifies his military prowess. Prints like this one were instrumental in shaping national identity in 19th-century Denmark. Kornerup’s art was part of a larger cultural project. As Denmark grappled with its place in a changing Europe, images of its past glories – especially its warrior kings – helped to solidify a sense of national pride and cultural distinctiveness. The cathedral itself functioned as a powerful symbol of the nation’s history. To understand this print fully, we must consider the political and cultural forces at play during Kornerup’s time. The institutions of art, like the museums and academies, played a crucial role in shaping artistic production and reception, and it is through careful research that we can better understand these relationships.