Comment on Norse Mythology in Thorvaldsen's Art - a Virtually Omitted Motive
In 1843, the priest and author Karsten Friis Viborg (1813-1885) summarized the goal of the Norse Renaissance in a publication of his own, which sought to increase familiarity with the Norse saga cycles: Now that the political history of the North seems to have been completed, it appears that we will finally come to play a role in cultural history, and specifically in art history. It is clear in any case that the more Scandinavia claims its national identity, the more the old Norse symbols, with their depth and beauty, will come forth and take up an essential place in our set of ideas. Art cannot turn its back on them; and it is extremely likely that a Nordic art will develop once Norse mythology has become so well-known that it has become a matter for discussion that one can bring up in conversation without bringing one’s interlocutor into a state of bewilderment, as if one was speaking Mesopotamian. Once the Norse/Nordic Spirit comes to life in us, then a Nordic art will be born, one which naturally will not confine itself exclusively to the images given in the Norse legendarium, but will create new images in their spirit, much as, for example, Thorvaldsen has done repeatedly in the classical-antique sphere. This will require more than mere acquaintanceship with Norse mythology; in particular, archaeological knowledge will be important in this regard. But even if we continue to lack a comprehensive text that continues the work Finn Magnussen has begun, it should nonetheless not be difficult for interested artists to acquire a satisfactory grounding in Norse archaeology. Cf. Karsten Friis Wiborg: Fremstilling af Nordens Mythologi for dannede Læsere, Copenhagen 1843, p. xviii.
Last updated 18.08.2014