Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sculptor (1770-1844)

While his works were being unloaded from the frigate Rota, Thorvaldsen was being received by the leading figures in the country. He was not just any man returning to Denmark on 17 September 1838, but a sculptor with a central position in European artistic life.

Even at the time Bertel Thorvaldsen was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, it was obvious that he was endowed with a special talent. In 1796, this ensured him the Academy’s major travel bursary, and on 8 March 1797 he arrived in Rome. He subsequently celebrated that day as his Roman birthday.

The statue Jason med det gyldne Skind (Jason with the Golden Fleece) marked Thorvaldsen’s breakthrough. Shortly before his travel bursary was due to run out, a wealthy Englishman commissioned the statue in marble, and Thorvaldsen was able to remain in Rome.

In pure neo-classical style characterised by noble humanity and serene harmony, Thorvaldsen created a series of major works in the following years. He received commissions from wealthy patrons throughout Europe, and from Denmark he was commissioned to model the great Statue of Christ and the figures of the Apostles for Copenhagen Cathedral.

Thorvaldsen died in 1844 and thus never saw the museum built for his works, which was not completed until 1848. Thorvaldsens Museum was the first museum in the world dedicated to the work of a single artist and stands as a mark of homage to one of Denmark’s greatest artists.

More About Thorvaldsen

• Thorvaldsens Museum
• Danish Museums On-line. On Thorvaldsens Museum
• The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Biography