22.3.1816

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Rom

Recipient

C.F. Hansen

Recipient’s Location

København

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift.

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen is grateful for the letters he has received from C.F. Hansen and Prince Christian, who have both invited him to come and work in Denmark. He praises Hansen’s architectural works in Copenhagen. He looks forward to working in Denmark. Unfortunately, he is not able to leave Rome as he has a lot of work that must be finished this summer.

Document

Rom den 22de Marts 1816

Høystærede Herr Etatsraad;

Med usigelig Glæde har jeg imodtaget Deres meget Venskabelige Brev, og samme Tiid tillige et fra Hans Høyhed Prinds Christian og et fra den Kongelige Bygningskommission, hvorved der gjøres mig de mest hædrende og skjønneste Indbydelser til at gjøre en Rejse til Fædrenelandet; for der at overtage flere Arbejder til de nye og under Arbejde staaende Kongelige Bygninger, som jeg sandeligen ikke kan Ansee, uden med den inderligste Følelse af Taknemlighed og Erkjendtlighed. –

Deres sjeldne Fortjenester Høystærede Herr Etatsraad som sand Konstner, Deres reene danede Smag, Deres dybe Kundskaber i det Theoretiske saavel som det Practiske ere allmindelige bekjendte, og det maa glæde enhver ædel Dansk, at besidde en Mand i Dem værdig til at opføre de første Bygninger i Staten. Deres Mesterværker; det nye Raad og Domhuus. og Christiansborgsslot, kjender jeg vel kun af Tegninger men jeg har ikke uden største Fornøyelse seet og beundret dem, disse Mesterværker vil sikkert som de Fortjener, saavel for Nutiiden som Efterværden altiid udgjøre Dannemarks Ziir og Stolthed. De Høystærede Ven, tillige med H: H: Prinds Christian og den Kongelige Bygningskommission, i Hans Majestæts Navn beviiser mig den mest udmærke Ære, i det De finder mig værdig, ogsaa at bidrage til disse skjønne Værkers Fuldendelser, for mig, kunde intet have noget mere tillokkende, eller fremskynde mine bestræbelser mere, end at gjøre mig denne store Tillid fortjendt.

At Tiltræde Rejsen saa snart som mueligt til mit kjære Fødeland som saa længe var mit eneste Ønske, og hvortil Omstændighederne nu saavel forener sig, vil nu være min en[e]ste Omsorg, men nødvendigt og uundgaaeligt vil det blive for mig e[n]dnu at opsætte den endnu for denne Sommer. Flere Arbejder som i saa lang Tiid kun har ma[n]glet den sidste Haand, formeedelst de mange nye Bestillinger jeg i den senere Tid har bekommet, har jeg forpligtet mig til at levere færdige denne Sommer, som jeg ogsaa ønsker for derved desbedre at vinde den Tiid der maatte behøves, uden at være nødt til at haste for meget med Tilbagerejsen til mine mange andre Forretninger her i Rom. De nyere bestilte Arbejder kan da beqvemt blive avanseret i Marmor medens min Fraværelse. Jeg agter desuden ikke heller at antage flere nye Bestillinger førend min tilbagekomst i Rom, des ubundnere, at kunde Afrejse herfra saa sna[r]d som muligt neste Vinter. Jeg har ogsaa tilskrevet Hans Høyhed Prinds Christian, og den Kongelige Bygnings Kommission og underrettet disse om samme Gjenstand.
Endeligen følger mine bedste Ønsker Høystærede Hr Etatsraad for Deres Vel, og jeg har med den største Høyagtelse og Hengivenhed den Ære stedse at forblive Herr Etatsraadens forbundneste og

ydmygste Tjener

A Thorvaldsen

P.S.
Herr Eckersberg formælder sig Hr. Etatsraaden helset. Det hengivneste og varmeste Ønske snarest muligt at see Dem glæder os begke. Det gjør mig usigelig undt ikke at kunde Rejse med denne Gode og fortreffelige Konstner

Oversættelse af dokument

Rome, March 22nd 1816

Honourable Etatsråd, [titular Councillor of State]

With unspeakable joy I have received your very kind letter and at the same time one as well from His Highness Prince Christian and one from the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace, by which I am given the most honourable and beautiful invitations to make a journey to the native land; there to take over several works for the new and the royal buildings in progress which I truly cannot see without the most sincere feeling of gratitude and appreciation. –

Your rare merits, honourable Sir, as a true artist, your pure, well bred taste, your extensive knowledge of the theoretical as well as practical is generally known, and any noble Dane must be glad to have a man in you worthy to construct the first buildings in the state. Your masterpieces; the new court and town hall and Christiansborg palace I know indeed only from drawings, but I have seen and admired them with the greatest pleasure, these masterpieces will surely as they deserve for ever constitute Denmark’s ornament and pride in our time as well as in posterity. You honourable friend as well as His Highness Prince Christian and the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace in the name of His Majesty show me the most excellent honour finding me worthy also to contribute to the finishing of these beautiful works, to me nothing could be more attractive or hasten my endeavours more, than proving worthy of this great confidence.

My only care will now be as soon as possible to begin the journey to my dear native land which for so long has been my only wish and for which circumstances now combine so well, but it will be necessary and unavoidable to me still to postpone it for this summer. Several works which for a long time have only wanted the finishing touches because of the many new commissions I have received lately, I have undertaken to deliver finished this summer, which I do want to thus better to gain the time I need, without having to hurry with the return journey to my many duties here in Rome. The newly commissioned works can then conveniently be advanced in marble during my absence. Besides I intend not to accept more new commissions until my return to Rome, the more independent to be able to leave from here as soon as possible next winter. I have also written to His Highness Prince Christian and the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace and informed these on the same subject.
Finally my best wishes follow, honourable Sir, for your health, and I have with the greatest respect and affection the honour ever to be your most grateful and

humble servant,

A Thorvaldsen

P.S.
Mr Eckersberg conveys his respects to you, Sir. The most affectionate and warm wish soon to see you please both of us. I am extremely sorry not to be able to travel with this good and excellent artist


[Translated by Karen Husum]

General Comment

Brevet blev erhvervet af Thorvaldsens Museum i 1936 fra en efterkommer af C.F. Hansen sammen med 86 andre breve til arkitekten, jf. THM j.nr. 5, 11/1936.

Document Type

Færdigt egenhændigt dokument

Archival Reference

m28A I, nr. 6

Thiele

Ikke omtalt hos Thiele.

Subjects

Last updated 07.10.2014