Siddende allegorisk kvindefigur

1789

Unanimously elected director of the Academy

After a failed attempt in 1787, Abildgaard was unanimously elected director of the Academy, serving in 1789–1791 (by other accounts until 1792). He had a reputation as a tyrant who took as many of the Academy’s monumental commissions as he could for himself.

1789–1790

Revolutionary ideals in the Knights’ Hall

Inspired by the French Revolution, Abildgaard tried to bring its ideals into the paintings of the Knights’ Hall at Christiansborg, but the King rejected his designs.

1792

A design for the Freedom Column

A religious freethinker and advocate of political reform, Abildgaard supported the emancipation of the farmers, helped raise money for the Freedom Column (Frihedsstøtten) and contributed a design for the monument and for two reliefs on its base.

1794

“Jupiter Weighs the Fate of Mankind”: isolation

His clashes with the establishment, fuelled by provocative statements and satirical drawings, culminated when his allegory “Jupiter Weighs the Fate of Mankind” was shown at the Salon. Abildgaard was politically isolated and cut out of public debate by the censors.

February 1794

The Christiansborg fire destroys his canvases

The fire at Christiansborg Palace destroyed seven of the ten monumental paintings of the grand cycle. The project stopped, and with it the painter’s income.

1794–1798

Decorating the Levetzau Palace at Amalienborg

After the fire Abildgaard obtained decorative commissions and the chance to work as an architect: he decorated the Levetzau Palace (now Christian VIII’s Palace) at Amalienborg, home of King Christian VII’s half-brother Frederik, with his protégé Bertel Thorvaldsen leading the sculptural work. He drew up plans for rebuilding Christiansborg but did not get the commission.