16.4.1834

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Rom

Recipient

Jonas Collin

Recipient’s Location

København

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen itemizes his bill for works for Christiansborg Palace and the Church of Our Lady and asks that the greater part of the money – a sum of 20,000 species [40,000 rix-dollars] – not be paid to himself but deposited in an account in the National Bank in Copenhagen for his daughter Elisa. He promised this to his son-in-law, Fritz Paulsen, immediately after the couple’s wedding on 25.12.1832, and because Paulsen is pressing him for the money, Thorvaldsen wants it to be deposited as soon as possible.

Document

Afskrift

Høivelbaarne Hr. Conferentsraad Collin.
Min høitagtede Ven, kiære Hr. Conferentsraad Collin.

Modtag min hierteligste Tak for den varme Deeltagelse, som saa tydelig udtaler sig af Deres tvende sidste venlige BreveI, og vær overbeviist om min ærede Ven, at jeg ogsaa tilfulde erkiender vor gode KongesII ædle Sindelag imod mig. Hvor ondt giør det mig ved en fremmed HaandIII at sende Dem min Hilsen, istedetfor, som jeg haabede nu at have kundet omfavne Dem i Kiøbenhavn;IV men foruden andre Hindringer, har det usædvanlig kolde Foraar paadraget mig en ForkiølelsesgigtV, der holder mig hiemme med en spansk Flue paa hver Arm, og saaledes ogsaa forsinker min Afreise.

Denne Hindring er mig saa meget mere ærgerlig fordi jeg stolede paa om føie Tid i Kiøbenhavn i Forening med min Ven at have kundet ordne den mig meget magtpaaliggende Indsættelse af 20,000 Spec:VI i NationalbankenVII for min DatterVIII. Efter Løfte til min SvigersønIX skulde Sagen alt været afgiort strax efter BrylluppetX og foraarsager mig ikke faa PlagerXI. Jeg har efter min kiære Vens Brev desangaaende, tilskrevetXII Hr. Conferentsraad HansenXIII, og iblandt andet angivet Hovedarbeiderne hvoraf denne Sum kunde udredes, nemlig:

4re: MeadillonsXIV til Slotsportalet …........ 2000 Sp:
For FrisenXV og de 2de CharyatiderXVI ........... 14,000 –
Christus-FigurXVII ........... 6000 –
FrontonenXVIII til Frue Kirke …........ 4000 – (ikkun mit eget Udlæg:)

Dertil komme endnu andre Arbeider, som jeg ved min Hiemkomst skal detaillere, ligesom jeg da ogsaa skal giøre Afregning for hvad jeg forud har modtaget. Maa jeg endnu engang anbefale denne Sag til min Vens Omsorg? jeg haaber, ikke at møde nogen Hindring, selv om jeg havde mindre at fordre, da mine mange andre Arbeider stedse tilbyde Godtgiørelse og Pengene desuden blive i Landet.

Med Hensyn til Valget af Obligationer, da erklærer jeg mig fuldkommen tilfreds med det Valg, som min kiære Conferentsraad i saa Fald vil giøre, da jeg tilfulde veed hvor trygt jeg kan overlade mig til Deres Godhed for mig, og Deres Indsigter. Lev vel min Ven! jeg haaber at mit Helbred snart vil tillade mig at omfavne Dem og takke Dem for al den Uleilighed mine Smaasorger give Dem

Deres ganske hengivne Ven

Rom d: 16 Apr. 1834. Albert Thorvaldsen

Oversættelse af dokument

Esteemed Konferensråd Collin.
My esteemed friend, dear Konferensråd Collin.

Please accept my sincere thanks for the warm sympathy, which is clearly pronounced in your last two kind letters and be convinced, dear friend, I also fully recognize our kind King’s noble attitude, towards me. How I feel sorry to send my regards by a stranger’s hand, instead of now having been able to embrace you in Copenhagen, as I hoped; but besides other obstacles the unusually cold spring has inflicted me with arthritis due to a cold, which keeps me at home with a Spanish Fly on each arm, and also delays my departure.

This obstacle is so much more unfortunate because I trusted soon in Copenhagen to have been able to settle the placement of 20,000 Species in the National Bank for my daughter, which is very important to me. According to a promise to my son-in-law the matter should have been decided immediately after the wedding and it causes me not a few troubles. After my dear friend’s letter about this I have written to Konferensråd Hansen, and among other things stated the main works of which this sum could be paid, namely:

4 Medallions for the palace portal ........... 2000 Sp
For the Frieze and the 2 Caryatids ........... 14000 –
Christ-figure ........... 6000 –
The pediment for the Church of Our Lady …........ 4000 – (only my outlay:)

Besides these there are still other works, which I shall give details about on my return, just as I also then shall settle accounts for what I have received in advance. May I once again recommend this matter to the care of my friend? I hope to meet no obstacle even though I had less to claim, as my many other works ever offer remuneration and besides the money will remain in the country.

As regards the choice of bonds, I declare myself completely satisfied with the choice, which my dear Konferensråd in that case will make, as I fully know how confidently I can trust your kindness for me, and your insight. Take care, my friend, I hope my health will soon permit me to embrace you and thank you for all the troubles my trifles give you.

Your respectful friend,

Rome, April 16th 1834 Albert Thorvaldsen


[Translated by Karen Husum]

General Comment

The whereabouts of the original letter is not currently known, and therefore the layout of the letter is an estimate.

Document Type

Færdigt dokument af koncipist

Amanuensis

Ludvig Bødtcher

Comment on amanuensis

NB. Dette er en afskrift af originalbrevet.

Archival Reference

Thorvaldsens Museums Oprettelse, 11

Thiele

Gengivet hos Thiele III, p. 525-526.

Subjects

Persons

Works

A317 Hebe skænker Herkules udødelighedens drik, Antagelig november 1808, inv.nr. A317
A318 Hygieia giver næring til Æskulaps slange, Antagelig november 1808, inv.nr. A318
A319 Minerva giver sjæl til menneske skabt af Prometheus, 1807 - 1808, inv.nr. A319
A320 Nemesis læser menneskenes gerninger højt for Jupiter, 1810, inv.nr. A320
A503 Alexander den Stores indtog i Babylon, marts 1812 - juni 1812, inv.nr. A503
A55 Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A55
A56 Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A56
A82 Kristus, Antagelig november 1821 - Senest januar 1822, inv.nr. A82
A67 En jæger, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A67
A59 Johannes Døberen, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A59
A60 En ung mand, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A60
A61 En søn med sin far, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A61
A62 En mor med sit barn, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A62
A63 En gammel skriftklog, Tidligst november 1821 - Senest oktober 1822, inv.nr. A63
A64 En liggende dreng, Tidligst november 1821 - Senest oktober 1822, inv.nr. A64
A65 En dreng, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A65
A66 En farisæer, Tidligst november 1821 - Senest oktober 1822, inv.nr. A66
A68 To børn, Tidligst november 1821 - Senest oktober 1822, inv.nr. A68
A69 En mor med sin søn, Tidligst oktober 1822, inv.nr. A69
A70 En hyrde, Tidligst november 1821 - Senest oktober 1822, inv.nr. A70

Commentaries

  1. Letters dated:

  2. The Danish King Frederik 6.

  3. The letter is written by the Danish writer
    Ludvig Bødtcher.

  4. Thorvaldsen was planning to travel to Copenhagen, but the journey was postponed several times and not begun until 5.8.1838. See documents regarding the subject Cancelled Journeys to Denmark.

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

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

  7. Nationalbanken i Kjøbenhavn.

  8. Thorvaldsen’s daughter Elisa Paulsen.

  9. The Danish lieutenant-colonel Fritz Paulsen.

  10. I.e. immediately after the wedding on 25.12.1832.
    See also documents regarding the subject Elisa and Fritz Paulsen’s Marriage.

  11. Fritz Paulsen was eager to ensure that the formalities regarding Elisa’s dowry were settled as soon as possible, and he was constantly reminding Thorvaldsen to get things done, cf. the documents regarding the subjects Elisa Paulsen’s Dowry and Elisa and Fritz Paulsen’s Marriage.

  12. Cf. letter dated 16.4.1834 from Thorvaldsen to C.F. Hansen.

  13. The Danish architect C.F. Hansen.

  14. * Hercules and Hebe, marble, Christiansborg Palace, cf. A317.

  15. Alexander the Great’s Entry into Babylon (the Alexander Frieze), marble, Christiansborg Palace, cf. A503, cf. the article the Commission for Christiansborg.

  16. Caryatids, marble, Christiansborg Palace, cf. A55 and cf. A56.

  17. Christ, marble, the Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen, cf. A82.

  18. John the Baptist Preaching, terracotta, the Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen, cf. A64, A63, A62, A61, A60, A59, A65, A66, A67, A68, A69, A70.

Last updated 11.06.2020