The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives

Tuesday Jan 28 1840 [...] went with Hardman & Mr Jameson to whom he introduced me to the studio of Thorwaldsen whose works gave me more pleasure than I had experienced on seeing them before – the management of his group for a pediment of St John preaching possesses more grandeur and truth to nature than I remember to have seen, the extremities of the groups do not at all appear influenced by the dimensions of space by the pediment the apparent attention of those standing by him contrasted strongly with the eager-ness and straining to catch every word afforded ample proof of the skill of the sculptor – his statue of Copernicus is grand and gigantic – his bust of Goethe is finely poetic, his medallions of the 4 seasons, day and night, venus and cupid are all very beautiful. The first statue he executed was Jason with the fleece when he was thirty years old. [...]