A Life of Neoclassical Intensity The life of Asmus Jakob Carstens was as dramatic and turbulent as the mythological subjects he sought to immortalize on canvas. Born in Sankt Jürgen, near Schleswig, his early years were far removed from the refined academies of Europe; he was apprenticed to a cooper, learning the rugged craft of barrel-making for five years. Yet, a youthful passion for painting could not be suppressed by the demands of manual labor. After leaving his apprenticeship, Carstens journeyed to Copenhagen, where he immersed himself in the study of art at the academy. It was during…