Planen til Børsen forevises Chr. IV i audienssalen på Rosenborg 1860

Wilhelm Marstrand rendered "Planen til Børsen forevises Chr. IV i audienssalen på Rosenborg" in monochrome tones of brown ink. Marstrand painted in the Golden Age of Danish painting, a period shaped by national romanticism, an aesthetic movement that focused on the history of a nation. The artwork recreates a scene from the early 17th century, during the reign of King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway. The painting depicts the moment when the plans for the Børsen, or Copenhagen Stock Exchange, are presented to the King. The Børsen was a symbol of Denmark's growing economic power and international trade ambitions. The image presents a study in contrasts: those who stand versus those who kneel, and those who look on versus the man who is the object of attention. The artist has captured a moment of anticipated royal approval, laden with implications for class, commerce, and national pride. This scene encapsulates the intertwining of power, architecture, and national identity in Denmark's historical narrative.