Amor patriae

myminifactory

In 1776 the Danish King Christian VII introduced nationality laws that reserved government posts and public offices for persons born in Denmark. The following year, C.F. Stanley was appointed professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. These laws reflected a growing awareness of national identity and history, as did Stanley's sculpture created the same year he obtained Danish citizenship. The title "Love of one's country" establishes a kinship with the king's motto "Honour through love of one's country." The picture symbolically presents honour as the result of patriotic deeds. The allegorical figure stands by his armour, shield, sword, and arrow, trampling another sword underfoot in reward for suggested deeds. He bears two laurel wreaths, the symbol of honour. The figure can be read both as a symbol of patriotism and an idealised patriotic citizen. During the 1760s Stanley spent time in Rome following discussions about the correlation between the ideal physique and the ideal structure of society. The figure's classical pose, heroic musculature, and studied ideal proportions suggest that the late absolute monarchy created a new breed of ideal subjects. Amor patriae (1777), an allegory symbolizing patriotism, was created by Carl Frederik Stanley in 1777. Made with plaster, it is now part of the National Gallery of Denmark's collection in Copenhagen, Denmark. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks from across the globe for public access. This artwork was scanned using photogrammetry and processed with Agisoft PhotoScan. If you have interesting items around you, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can contribute to this community effort.