Asmus Jacob Carstens

Asmus Jacob Carstens (1754, 1798) was a German-Danish Neoclassical draughtsman and painter celebrated for his monumental figure compositions drawn from classical antiquity and mythology. Largely self-taught and fiercely independent, he famously defied the Prussian Academy in Berlin to pursue his artistic vision in Rome, where he spent the final years of his life. His highly finished drawings in chalk were particularly prized by collectors and remain his most significant legacy in auction sales.