Narcissus.

The mythological figure of Narcissus appears in this 1815 painting, created during Eckersberg"s Roman sojourn when exposure to classical art and Italian light transformed his style. Narcissus, the youth who fell in love with his own reflection, was a standard subject for academic painters, testing their ability to render the idealized male nude. The Roman period marked a crucial stage in Eckersberg"s development from talented student to mature artist.

The male nude is rendered with the anatomical precision Eckersberg learned from David, combined with the clear Italian light he experienced during his Roman years. The reflective surface of water introduces a passage of technical display, with the reflected image providing a visual echo of the figure above. The palette reflects the warm, golden light of Rome, with the flesh tones warmer and more luminous than in Eckersberg"s earlier Danish work.