Bertel Thorvaldsen
Rom
Slotsbygningskommissionen
København
Ingen udskrift.
Dateringen fremgår af brevet.
The commentary for this letter is not available at the moment.
Indet kunde være for mig mere glædende og behageligere e[n]d den skjøne og hædrende Jndbydelse, den Kongelige BygningsKommission har beæret mig med, til at gjøre en Rejse til Fædrenelandet og der at overtage og udføre adskellige Arbejder til det nye, og under Arbejde staaende Kongelige Bygninger.
At igjensee mit kære Fødeland, og der at kunde gavne saa meget mine svage Evner tillader, har siden lang Tiid været Gjenstande for mine varmeste Ønsker, hvor gjærne altsaa, griber jeg denne skjøne lejlighed til disse Ønskers opnaaelse.
Men for desmere ubunden og des friere at kunde Efterkome alle Ønsker, nemlig at udføre alle Arbejder, de i det mindste, som maatte ønskes udført paa Stædet selv, uden at haste saa saa meget med Tilbagerejsen til mine mange Forretninger her i Rom; seer jeg mig nødsaget til at opsætte Rejsen endnu for nogen Tiid.
Siden Fredens igjenoprettelse er Rom atter bleven besøgt af mange Rejsende fra alle Lande, hvorved mig er bleven Overdraget mange nye bestellinger, dels af de færdige Arbejder og dels af nye, dog ey disse, som bequemt kan blive forarbejdet, medens min Fraværelse, men ældre bestillinger, til hvis Fuldendelse jeg har forpligtit mig denne Sommer, foraarsager mig dette Ophold. Nu vel min eneste Omsorg og bestræbelse ene være henvendt paa disse Arbejders hastigst mueligst Fuldendelse og befordring, for strax i begyndelsen af nest Aar at tiltræde Rejsen, og at kunde benytte den hele paafølgende Sommer tel de Arbejders Udførelse Hans Majestæt vor Allernaadigste Konge samt den Kongelige BygningsKommission maatte ønske af mig udført. Maatte det da lykkes mig at Svare nogenlunde til den altforstore Tiltro den Kongelige BygningsKommission sætter til mine svage Evner, hvor usigeligen vilde det da Glæde mig, at have Bidraget mit, til Konstværkkes Fuldendelse, der bestandigt vel gjøre Danemark, og dens Autor den værdege Hr Etatsraad Hansen den størst Ære. Jeg maa endnu anføre, at med Hensyn til det Forslag den Kongelige BygningsKommission anførte med Anviisning paa Penger til Rejsen, da maae det derved henstaae, indtil jeg selv kommer til Kjøbenhavn –
Endeligen beder jeg mig den Kongelige BygningsKommissions Gunst og bevaagenhed, paa det bedste Anbefalet og har den Ære at nævne mig
Rom d: 20de Marts 1816
underdanigst
A Thorvaldsen
Nothing could to me be more pleasant and convenient than the noble and honourable invitation, the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace has favoured me with, to make a journey to the native land and there take over and execute several works to the new and the royal buildings in progress.
To see again my dear native land, and there to be useful as much as my modest abilities permit, have for long been the object of my warmest wishes, so how readily do I seize this beautiful opportunity to fulfil these wishes.
But in order to be able to carry out all wishes the more independently and freely, namely to execute all works, at least those, which might be wished executed in situ without hurrying to return to my many duties here in Rome, I find myself compelled to postpone the journey for some time still.
Since the reestablishment of peace Rome has again been visited by many travellers from all countries, with which I have been assigned many new commissions, of the finished works as well as of new ones, not these, however, which conveniently may be executed while I am away, but old commissions which I have undertaken to finish this summer cause me to stay. Now my only care and endeavour will be applied to the quickest possible finishing and promotion of these works, so that I immediately at the beginning of next year can begin the journey and be able to use all the following summer on the execution of the works His Majesty our most gracious King as well as the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace might wish from me. May I succeed in answering fairly well to the much too great confidence the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace gives to my modest abilities, how inexpressibly it would then please me, to have contributed to the finishing of the work of art, which for ever will be very much to Denmark’s credit and to its author the honourable Etatsråd Hansen [titular Councillor of State].
I must also mention that as regards the suggestion about an order of money for the journey given by the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace it must be left open until I come to Copenhagen myself.-
Finally I ask for the favour and grace of the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace, most recommended and with the honour to name me
Rome, March 20th 1816
Most humbly,
A. Thorvaldsen
[Translated by Karen Husum]
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Last updated 07.10.2014
Latin for “in remembrance”, used to recall oneself to somebody. The expression was originally a polite introduction in letters to persons of a higher rank, often civil servants. Gradually it was also used more generally in letters to or from officials, often written in one word. The expression appears frequently in the more formal letters in the Archive.