31.12.1839

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Nysø

Recipient

Det Kongelige Overhoffmarchalat, Christian Ove Haxthausen

Recipient’s Location

København

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen regrets that he is unable to take part in the funeral of Frederik VI because of a bad foot. He also regrets that the same bad foot has made it impossible for him to pay tribute to Christian VIII as the new king.

Document

Deres Exelence
Hr: Hofmarskal Haxthausen^I!

Deres ærede Skrivelse^II af 27’ dennes, med Tilsigelse til at følge Høisalig Kong Frederik den 6^tIII til sit sidste Hvilested^IV, har jeg rigtig modtaget, og beklager meget, ikke at kunne opfylde denne Pligt, formedelst en daarlig Fod^V som forhindrer mig tage Sko eller Støvler paa og som har hidtil modsat sig mit Ønske, at bringe vores ophøiede, elskede Konge, Christian den 8^eVI. min allerunderdanigste Hylding;^VII hvilken Glæde jeg er bange endnu for nogen Tid^VIII vil blive mig nægtet af samme Grund, skjøndt jeg snart kommer til Byen^IX, NB for som jeg frygter, endnu i længere Tid at maatte holde Stuen.

Nysøe den 31’ December 1839

Deres ærbødigste
Albert Thorvaldsen

Oversættelse af dokument

Your Excellency,
Lord Chamberlain Haxthausen,

Your favour of the 27^th this month with summons to see the late lamented King Frederik 6^th to his last resting place I have rightly received and deeply regret not to be able to perform this duty because of a bad foot, which prevents me from putting on shoes or boots, and which so far has opposed my wish to pay my most humble homage to our praised and beloved King Christian 8^th; this joy I am afraid will be denied to me of the same reason for some time, although I shall soon come to town, NB as I fear to have to stay inside for still more time.

Nysoe, December 31^st 1839

Yours faithfully,
Albert Thorvaldsen

[Translated by Karen Husum]

General Comment

The format of the letter is a conjecture until the original can be consulted.

Document Type

Amanuensis

Christine Stampe

Comment on amanuensis

Formentlig er der tale om Christine Stampe.

Archival Reference

Thiele

Other references

• Rigmor Stampe (ed): Baronesse Stampes Erindringer om Thorvaldsen, København 1912, p. 51, 55.

Subjects

• Thorvaldsen and Danish Kingship
• Thorvaldsen's Belated Homage to Christian 8.
• Thorvaldsen's Health

Persons

• Christian 8.
• Frederik 6.
• Christian Ove Haxthausen

Commentaries

1. The Danish count, major-general, Lord Chamberlain, and treasurer of the College of Arms Christian Ove Haxthausen.

2. The letter itself no longer exists, but the envelope with an address has been preserved.

3. The Danish King Frederik 6., who had died 3.12.1839.

4. Frederik 6. was entombed 16.1.1840 in Roskilde Cathedral.

5. According to Christine Stampe Thorvaldsen had “stubbed his toe on a beam on board the ship and lost the nail” (cf. Stampe, op. cit., p. 51).

6. The Danish King Christian 8.

7. This is an act, whereby the subjects, either in writing or orally, pay homage to the new king and swear allegiance to him.

8. Thorvaldsen swore allegiance to Christian 8. 18.1.1840.

9. Thorvaldsen arrived in Copenhagen 11.1.1840 after a stay at Nysø.

Last updated 08.07.2019