15.2.1842

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Rom

Recipient

Christian 8.

Recipient’s Location

København

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift ses på museets kopi af brevet.

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen confirms receipt of the letter saying that a frigate will be sent to Italy in order to collect his artworks and collections. He is pleased about the successful bronze casting of _Christian 4., cf. A152. There is also sad news about the untimely death of the German Princess Luise von Mecklenburg-Strelitz and illness in the Stampe family.

Document

Allernaadigste Konge!

Det var mig en sand Glæde ved Hr MüllerI at modtage Deres Majestæts naadige SkrivelseII, hvoraf jeg seer med fornøielse at der kommer en FregatIII til Middelhavet i Sommer, med hvilken Deres Majestæt tillader mig at hiemsendeIV mine Kunstsager. I alt dette seer jeg nye Beviser paa Deres Majestæts Naade for mig, hvilke jeg telfulde paaskiønner, og for hvilke jeg aflægger min allerunderdanigste Taksigelse.

At saavel Deres Majestæt selv som vor ophøiede DronningV og den øvrige Kongelige Familie nyde det bedste Velbefindende, glæder mig udsegelegVI. Jeg har haft flere gange den ære at helse paa Storhertugenden af Mecklenborg StrelitzVII som yttrede sin Glæde over de gode EfterretningerVIII jeg bragte Hende fra Deres Majestæt, den gode Hertugende er nu Reist herfra, Hun har haft et Sørgeligt Ophold her i Rom med at tabbe senIX Datter;X jeg tager ret megen Deel i den bedrøvelse, som dette Dødsfald maa forraasage Moderen og Søsteren, vor høie KronprindsesseXI.

At Christian d 4des Statüe er lykkedes saae godt i StøbningenXII, har været mig meget behageligt at erfare; det BasriliefXIII, som Deres Majestæt ønsker udført af mig til SarkophagenXIV, skal det være mig en Glæde at modellere, saasnart jeg faaer Maalet tilsendt. Hvad angaaer Tegningen til den afdøde PrindsesseXV GravmindeXVI, da er den bleven mig viist af Oberst PaulsenXVII, og jeg har meddeelt ham min MeningXVIII om den.

Min Reise til ItalienXIX har været ret Lykkelig, men efter min Ankomst til Rom var jeg i nogen Tiid meget syg;XX nu er min Sundheds Tilstand Gudskeelov igeen god og jeg har begyndt det nye Aar med at arbeide flittigtXXI.

Der er allerede begyndt paa Indpakningen af mine Sager: et Arbeede, hvelket Hr. BravoXXII har den Godhed at hielpe mig med. Jeg agter at hiemsendeXXIII alt hvad jeg harXXIV, og inden Juli Maanet skal det alt staae beredt i Livorno tel at endskebesXXV.

Baron StampesXXVI Familie har i den senere Teed disværre været meget plaget af Sygdom;XXVII ModerenXXVIII og fornemmeligen den ældste DatterXXIX er endnu meget angreben. Baronessen har mig bedet at brenge Deres Majestæt hendes allerunderdanigste Helsen.

Idet jeg endnu engang af Hiertet takker for al den Naade, Deres Majestæt har for mig, slutter jeg med det Ønske, at Gud vel bevare Deres Majestæt og hele den Kongelige Familie.

Rom d. 15 Febbrajo 1842

Allerunderdanigste
Albert Thorvaldsen

Oversættelse af dokument

Most Gracious King,

It was a true pleasure to receive from Mr Müller Your Majesty’s gracious letter from which I see with pleasure that a frigate will come to the Mediterranean this summer by which Your Majesty permits me to send home my objects of art. From all this I see further proof of Your Majesty’s favour, which I fully appreciate, and for which I render my most humble thanks.

It pleases me inexpressibly that Your Majesty as well as our exalted Queen and the other royal family are all in perfect health. On several occasions I have had the honour to greet the grand duchess of Meckelnburg-Strelitz, who expressed her joy at the good news I brought her from Your Majesty. The kind duchess has now left, she has had a sad stay here in Rome because she lost her daughter. I sympathize very much with the sorrow, which this death may cause the mother and the sister, our high crown princess.

It has pleased me a lot to learn that the statue of Christian 4th was cast so successfully; the bas-relief, which Your Majesty wishes to be executed by me for the sarcophagus I shall model with pleasure as soon as I receive the measure. As regards the drawing for the deceased princess’ sepulchral monument it has been shown to me by colonel Paulsen and I have given him my opinion about it.

I had a safe journey to Italy, but after my arrival in Rome I was rather ill for some time; now my health is again good, thank goodness and I have started the new year by working hard.

The packing up of my things has already begun: a job with which Mr. Bravo is so kind as to help me. I intend to send home all that I own and before the month of July it must be ready in Leghorn to be put on board.

Lately Baron Stampe’s family have suffered from illness: the mother and especially the eldest daughter are still suffering. The baroness has asked me to give Your Majesty her most humble regards.

Heartily thanking you for Your Majesty’s grace to me I finish with the wish: God save Your Majesty and all the royal family.

Rome, February 15th 1842

Most humble
Albert Thorvaldsen


[Translated by Karen Husum]

General Comment

There exist six drafts of the final letter dated 15.2.1842 (read more about Thorvaldsen’s writing difficulties in the article Thorvaldsen’s Letter Writing Process):

Document Type

Færdigt egenhændigt dokument

Archival Reference

Rigsarkivet. Kabinetssekretariatet, Ujournaliserede sager. Kopi på THM m28A I, nr. 43.

Thiele

Omtalt hos Thiele I, p. 178-180.

Subjects

Persons

Works

A152 Christian 4., Tidligst 18. januar 1840 - Tidligst 30. april 1840, inv.nr. A152
A153 Tre genier, 25. november 1842, inv.nr. A153

Commentaries

  1. The Danish numismatist, museum inspector, and councillor of state Ludvig Müller, who had travelled to Rome in order to help his ailing brother, the Danish painter Adam Müller.

  2. Cf. letter dated 23.12.1841 from Christian 8. to Thorvaldsen.

  3. The frigate Thesis, which was launched 30.4.1840.

  4. Cf. the article Transportation of Thorvaldsen’s Artworks to Copenhagen 1842.

  5. The Danish Queen Caroline Amalie.

  6. Dvs. “usigelig”. Se også artiklen Thorvaldsens tale- og skriftsprog.

  7. The German Grand Duchess Marie von Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

  8. Christian 8. had asked Thorvaldsen to inform the Grand Duchess that her daughter, Princess Caroline, was “well and content” in Denmark in her recent marriage to Frederik (7.).

  9. Dvs. tabe sin, dvs. miste, se også artiklen Thorvaldsens tale- og skriftsprog.

  10. Her daughter Luise von Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who died at the beginning of 1842, only 24 years old.

  11. The German Princess Caroline von Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was called Mariane in Denmark.

  12. I.e. the bronze casting by Jørgen Dalhoff of Thorvaldsen’s sculpture Christian 4., cf. A152, in Christian 4.’s chapel, Roskilde Cathedral.

  13. I.e. Three Genii, 1842, cf. A153, which symbolize Christian 4.’s motto “Regna firmat pietas”. A bronze version by Jørgen Dalhoff is placed in Christian 4.’s chapel in Roskilde Cathedral.

  14. The Danish architect G.F. Hetsch made several proposals for the decoration of Christian 4.’s chapel, one of which was a proposal for a monumental sarcophagus which was to contain the coffin and also form the base of Thorvaldsen’s statue of Christian 4. This proposal was not realized. There exist 22 drawings for the chapel in the archives of Roskilde Cathedral.

  15. The Danish-German Princess Charlotte Frederikke, who had died in 1840, and who had been Christian 8.’s first wife.

  16. The sepulchral monument to Charlotte Frederikke, who is buried in the Campo Santo Teutonico near St. Peter’s in Rome, was executed by the Danish sculptor J.A. Jerichau and placed after 1848.

  17. The Danish lieutenant-colonel and chamberlain to Charlotte Frederikke, Fritz Paulsen, Thorvaldsen’s son-in-law.

  18. It is not known whether Thorvaldsen was to execute the monument or merely play an advisory role. It was executed by J.A. Jerichau.

  19. Cf. the article Thorvaldsen’s Journey to Rome, May-September 1841.

  20. See also documents regarding the subject Thorvaldsen’s Health.

  21. Cf. the Thorvaldsen Chronology early 1842.

  22. The Danish painter, consul and councillor of state Johan Bravo.

  23. Cf. the article Transportation of Thorvaldsen’s Artworks to Copenhagen 1842.

  24. In the sixth draft of this letter, Thorvaldsen writes “all that I can do without here”, and he lists his various collections: books, paintings, gems, and coins, besides those of his own works that were not already in Copenhagen.

  25. Dvs. “indskibes”. Se også artiklen Thorvaldsens tale- og skriftsprog.

  26. The Danish Baron Henrik Stampe.

  27. Cf. the Thorvaldsen Chronology january – March 1842.

  28. The Danish Baroness Christine Stampe.

  29. The Danish Baroness Elise Stampe.

Last updated 07.07.2017