Comment on 12.10.1799

As early as 1797, the writer Friederike Brun in Denmark had pointed out the possibility of exploiting the troubled times by acquiring Roman art treasures at low prices. She called on rich Danes to initiate a national subscription concerning the acquisition of important paintings and antique sculptures in Rome. Brun’s initiative, however, did not succeed.
Later, in 1800, she repeated her call in Prosaischen Schriften, Copenhagen 1800, p. 285-286, again without result. Among other things she wrote: “Why do we not invoke the law of salvage by pulling the precious pieces of wreckage from Southern Europe on to our shores?” See Louis Bobé: Frederikke Brun, Copenhagen 1910, p. 100-101.

Last updated 13.01.2015