10.8.1832

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Rom

Recipient

NN, Fritz Paulsen

Recipient’s Location

Rom

Information on recipient

Modtageren fremgår ikke af dokumentet, men er muligvis Fritz Paulsen, der godt kunne have bedt Thorvaldsen om en sådan erklæring forud for – eller som en betingelse for – brylluppet med Elisa. Paulsen var meget forhippet på formalia (og penge), hvilket blandt andet brev af 5.12.1832 fra Paulsen til Thorvaldsen bevidner.

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

A written declaration, in which Thorvaldsen promises to give his daughter Elisa in marriage to Fritz Paulsen and undertakes to deposit 40,000 rix-dollars in silver in the National Bank in Copenhagen immediately after the wedding. He also undertakes to petition Frederik 6. to allow him to adopt Elisa so that she becomes legitimate and entitled to inherit.

Document

Jeg Underskrevne EtatsraadI og CommandeurII Albert Thorvaldsen erklærer herved at jeg overgiver min naturlige Datter Elisa Sophia CharlottaIII som Ægtehustrue til Her Oberstlieutenant v: PaulsenIV, forpligtende mig til strax efter deres BryllupV at indsætte i Nationalbanken en Summa af 40,000 rbd. rede SølvVI, som dog bør henstaae urokkeligen, og blot Renterne tilfalde min Datter og hendes Afkom, samt i Tilfælde at hun eller hendes Afkom ikke mere existerer, anvendes i Analogie med mit TestamenteVII paa samme Maade som mine øvrige efterladte Penge.
Jeg forpligter mig til at indgive en allerunderdanigst AnsøgningVIII til Hans Majestæt Kongen af DanmarkIX, hvori jeg anholder om at bemeldte min naturlige Datter Elisa Sophia Charlotta, maa blive mig adopteretX som ægtefødt Barn, bære mit Navn og som min ægtefødte Datter vorde berettiget til at modtage den Arv, som jeg i min forfattede testamentariske Disposition har fastsat at efterlade hende.

Rom, d. 10 Aug 1832.
Alberto Thorvaldsen

Oversættelse af dokument

I the undersigned titular Councillor of State and Commander Albert Thorvaldsen hereby declare that I give my natural daughter Elisa Sophia Charlotta as wedded wife to lieutenant-colonel v: Paulsen, entering into the obligation immediately after their wedding to deposit in the National Bank a sum of 40,000 rix-dollar ready silver, which, however, must be deposited immovably and only the interest may go to my daughter and her issue, and in case neither she nor her issue exist any longer, it must be spent by analogy with my will, in the same way as my other left money.
I bind myself to send in a most humble application to His Majesty the King of Denmark, in which I apply for permission to adopt my natural daughter Elisa Sophia Charlotta as a legitimate child, to carry my name and as my legitimate daughter to be entitled to receive the inheritance, which in my written testamentary disposition I have stipulated to leave her.

Rome, August 10th 1832.
Alberto Thorvaldsen


[Translated by Karen Husum]

Archival Reference

Thorvaldsens Museums Oprettelse, 1

Thiele

Thiele III, p. 454-456.

Subjects

Persons

Commentaries

  1. Thorvaldsen was appointed acting councillor of state 12.11.1819, cf. the article Thorvaldsen’s Honorary Titles.

  2. Thorvaldsen became “Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog” on 1.8.1829, cf. the article Thorvaldsen’s Honorary Titles.

  3. Thorvaldsen’s daughter Elisa Paulsen.

  4. The Danish lieutenant-colonel Fritz Paulsen.

  5. Cf. the Thorvaldsen chronology 25.12.1832.
    See also documents regarding the subject Elisa and Fritz Paulsen’s Marriage.

  6. I.e. 40,000 rix-dollars in silver or 20,000 species, cf. documents regarding the subject Elisa Paulsen’s Dowry.

  7. Cf. Thorvaldsen’s will dated 8.8.1830.

  8. Cf. letter dated 15.1.1833 from Thorvaldsen to Frederik 6.

  9. The Danish King Frederik 6.

  10. Cf. the application of 15.1.1833 and other documents regarding the subject the Adoption of Elisa Paulsen.

Last updated 24.02.2020