Bertel Thorvaldsen
København
Københavns Magistrat
København
Ingen udskrift.
Dateringen fremgår af testamentet.
The commentary for the will of Thorvaldsen is not available at the moment.
Undertegnede, Billedhugger Bertel Thorvaldsen, Conferensraad, Commandeur af Dannebrog og Dannebrogsmand, p.t. Directeur for det Kongelige Akademie for de skiønne Kunster i Kiøbenhavn, erklærer herved, at ligesom jeg under mit Ophold i Rom, deels i et den 24de August 1837 i Notarii publici Torriani Contoir deponeret Document, deels i en senere ligeledes i bemeldte Contoir deponeret Codicil af 25. Julii dette Aar, har tilkiendegivet min sidste Villie om, hvorledes den efter min Død skulde forholdes med mine Efterladenskaber, saaledes har jeg, der som Kongelig dansk Embedsmand, navnligen som Professor ved Akademiet for de skiønne Kunster i Kiøbenhavn, hører hiemme i denne Stad, i Betragtning heraf, og med Hensyn til, at den Hovedskiftebehandling, der i sin Tid efter min dødelige Afgang vil finde Sted, maa blive at afholde her i Staden, besluttet, ved mit Ophold her at gientage og bestemme, hvad der skal ansees for min sidste Villie, og ubrødelig overholdes.
Thi fastsætter jeg herved:
1.
Til min Fødeby Kiøbenhavn skienker jeg alle mig tilhørende Kunstgienstande, saavel de, der allerede ere her i Hovedstaden, som den langt større Deel deraf, der endnu er i Rom, tilligemed den Tilvæxt, de endvidere indtil min Død maatte erholde, det Hele bestaaende af Statuer og Basrelieffer i Marmor og i Gips, antike Vaser, udskaarne Stene, Paster, Bronzer, Terracotter, Medailler, Malerier, Pragtværker, stukne Kobberplader, løse Kobbere og Lithographier, Haandtegninger, Bøger og hvilkesomhelst andre antike og moderne Gienstande, der henhøre til Videnskaberne og de skiønne Kunster. /De af mine Arbeider, som i sin Tid ere bestilte af Commissionen for Christiansborg Slots og Frue Kirkes Opførelse, og som tildeels ere anbragte paa de for dem bestemte Steder, ere selvfølgeligen ikke herunder indbegrebne./.
Forbemeldte min urokkelige og uigienkaldelige Gave er underkastet følgende Betingelser:
a. at alle de ovenfor anførte Gienstande skulle udgiøre et eneste og særskilt Museum, der skal bære mit Navn, saaledes at det aldrig skal kunne blandes med hvilkesomhelst andre Samlinger, og følgeligen heller ikke formindskes, deles eller forandres under nogetsomhelst Paaskud eller af nogensomhelst Aarsag;
b. at Staden Kiøbenhavn skal lade indrette et passende, særskilt, og for Ildsvaade sikkert, Locale for dette Museum;
c. at jeg forbeholder mig, dersom der skulde møde Vanskeligheder med at faae bemeldte Locale i Stand, at forandre min Disposition over den Deel af ovennævnte Kunstgienstande, som er i Rom, hvorimod den Deel deraf, som er ankommen, eller endnu maatte ankomme til Danmark, er og forbliver Staden Kiøbenhavns Eiendom.
d. at de Statuer og Basrelieffer, som ved min Død skulde findes ufuldendte, paa mit Stærvboes Bekostning skulle fuldføres af Hr. Prof. Freund og Hr. Pietro Galli, min Elev, hvorefter disse saaledes fuldendte Arbeider skulle forenes med og indbefattes i denne Donation under samme Betingelser.
2.
Med Hensyn til at jeg i Overeensstemmelse med den mig allernaadigst forundte Bestalling af 12te Marts 1833 har som min Datter adopteret Frue Elisa Sophia Charlotte, i Ægteskab med Hr. Oberst v. Paulsen, ligesom og bemeldte Ægteskab er blevet autoriseret af den pavelige Stol, erklærer jeg hermed, at, da jeg, ifølge min tidligere Bestemmelse, ved et Depositum i Nationalbanken, har sikkret bemeldte min adopterede Datter Renterne af 40,000 Rd. Sølv saalænge hun lever; saa er det min bestemte Villie, at hun hermed skal lade sig nøie, da det altid har været og fremdeles er min Mening, at fornævnte hende, for Livstid tillagte aarlige Rente skal træde istedetfor og betragtes som hendes Arvelod, hvorfor jeg herved gientager de i min ovennævnte Codicil indeholdte Bestemmelser, ifølge hvilke hverken hun eller hendes Mand skal kunne fremsætte nogen videre Paastand efter min Død, hvorimod fornævnte Rente efter hendes dødelige Afgang skal tilfalde hendes i Ægteskab med Oberst v. Paulsen, eller i hvilket andet Ægteskab, hun, dersom hun blev Enke, maatte indgaae, avlede Børn og deres Descendentere, saalænge nogen af disse er til, men naar de alle maatte være uddøde, anvendes saaledes, som jeg nedenfor har bestemt angaaende den Deel af mine Efterladenskaber, over hvilke jeg ikke specielt har disponeret.
3.
Jeg forbeholder mig at kunne disponere til Fordeel for hvilkensomhelst Person, der er mig kiær og som har fortient det af mig, over hvad jeg maatte ansee for passende, og derfor erklærer jeg herved, at naar der findes imellem mine Papirer og i min Skriverpult noget Blad Papir med specielle Legater eller Dispositioner, som maa antages at være skrevne og underskrevne af mig, efter Udfærdigelsen af denne min sidste Villie, da skal et saadant Blad ansees at udgiøre en Deel af dette mit Testament, og mine Arvinger skulle være forpligtede til, nøiagtigen at opfylde, hvad der saaledes af mig maatte være anordnet, ligesom ogsaa mine Testaments Executorer i Kiøbenhavn skulle med den største Nøiagtighed fuldbyrde disse Legater, uden at Nogen paa nogensomhelst Maade skal kunne modsætte sig, hvad jeg, som ovenfor anført, specielt maatte have anordnet, dog er det en Selvfølge, at det skal være bemeldte Executorer forbeholdt at undersøge, saavel Ægtheden af et saadant Document, der maatte paaberaabes, som i Særdeleshed hvorvidt det maatte antages at være ældre end den 24de August 1837, efterdi jeg herved erklærer enhver angaaende min Formue forinden bemeldte Datum affattet Disposition for ugyldig, forsaavidt den ellers ikke maatte kunne ansees udtrykkeligen eller stiltiende gientaget ved nærværende Document.
4.
Jeg bekræfter herved min tidligere til Fordeel for min ovennævnte adopterede Datters i Ægteskab med Oberst v. Paulsen fødte tvende Børn, Albert og Carl, fastsatte Bestemmelse, ifølge hvilken for hvert af dem har hos Handelshuset C.H. Donner i Altona deponeret en Capital af 6000 Species, altsaa for begge tilsammen en Sum af 12,000 Species, af hvilken sidstnævnte Sum (der, forsaavidt jeg ikke i saa Henseende maatte træffe nogen anden Foranstaltning, i alt Fald efter min Død skal indsættes i Kiøbenhavn Overformynderie, for der at giøres frugtbringende) Halvdelen for hvert af fornævnte Børn forøges med de Renter og Renters Renter, som deraf svares, indtil det har opnaaet den Alder af 18 Aar, fra hvilken Tid Enhver af dem skal være berettiget til, under en paa lovlig Maade beskikket Curators Tilsyn, der dog ophører, naar de have fyldt det 25de Aar, selv at oppebære og disponere over Renterne af den for samme udsatte og paa fornævnte Maade forøgede Kapital. Det er fremdeles min Villie, at saafremt fornævnte min adopterede Datter enten i hendes nuværende eller hvilket andet Ægteskab, hun muligen i Tiden kunde indgaae, faaer flere Børn, da skal der, forsaavidt ingen anden speciel Bestemmelse er giort over den Formue, jeg efterlader mig, tillægges hvert af bemeldte Børn, som medens jeg lever opnaaer en Alder af idetmindste et Aar, Renterne af en ligesaa stor Sum, som der er deponeret for hver af de ovennævnte Børn, nemlig 6000 Specier, som i saa Fald ligeledes indsættes i og forrentes af Kiøbenhavns Overformynderie, men hvoraf Renterne, saalænge Børnene forblive hos deres Fader, af denne oppebæres for at anvendes til deres Fordeel, og efter hans Død paa lige Maade oppebæres af deres Værge, men derimod, naar nogen af Sønnerne har opnaaet en Alder af 18 Aar, overlades samme til Brug under en beskikket Curators Tilsyn og udbetales dem fra den Tid, de have fuldendt den Alder af 25 Aar. Naar Noget af de tvende ovennavngivne eller noget andet af Frue Paulsens Børn, der i Overeensstemmelse med Foranførte kommer til at nyde forbemeldte Renter, ved sin Død efterlader sig Børn eller fiernere Descendentere, da arve disse in capita, i uendelige Grader, de saaledes ledige Renter, som deles imellem Arvingerne i lige Lodder, uden Hensyn til Kiønnet, og saaledes, at de af een Green, som ere fiernere i Grad, forsaavidt deres Ascendentere ere bortdøde, tilstædes Adgang til Renterne lige med de nærmere af en anden Green i samme Linie. Men naar een af disse Linier skulde uddøe, da tilfalde de ledige Renter den eller de andre paa lige Maade begunstigede Linier, i hver af hvilke de fiernere i een Green ligeledes arve in capita tilligemed de nærmere af en anden Green. Men naar ingen af disse Linier mere er til, da tilfalde Renterne de øvrige af Frue Paulsens Descendentere i Overeensstemmelse med foranførte Regler, og naar alle disse Linier maatte være uddøde, da skulle de omhandlede Renter tilfalde det Museum, der, som ovenmeldt, skal oprettes og bære mit Navn, og dermed saaledes forholdes paa samme Maade, som jeg nedenfor vil bestemme angaaende de af mine Efterladenskaber, over hvilke jeg ingen anden speciel Bestemmelse har giort.
5.
Hvad angaaer de af mine Efterladenskaber, over hvilke jeg ingen særdeles Bestemmelse har fastsat eller endnu maatte fastsætte, da er det min Villie, at efter min Død alle Fordringer og udestaaende Kapitaler inddrages, at alt andet, der kan henføres til min efterladte Formue (forsaavidt samme ikke bestaae i rede Penge), saasom Kongelige Obligationer og andre Statspapirer, Løsøre, faste Eiendomme, Rettigheder, Intet undtaget, skal realiseres, og at det Beløb, som deraf tilligemed de rede Penge, som forefindes efter mig, bliver tilbage, efterat min Begravelse og andre paa Stervboet hvilende Udgifter ere udredede, for bestandigt indsættes i Overformynderiet heri Staden, hvorimod Renterne deraf skulle tilfalde alle, min ovennævnte adopterede Datters, ved min Død i Live værende Børn, hvilke som mine Universal=Arvinger, uden Hensyn til Kiønnet, skulle nyde, hver en lige Andeel, dog saaledes, at Faderen, saalænge Børnene underholdes paa hans Bekostning, oppebærer de dem tilfaldne Renter for at anvende samme til deres Fordeel, hvorimod hver af dem, efterat have opnaaet 18 Aars Alder, overlades de Samme tillagte Renter under en Curators Tilsyn, som dog for Sønnernes Vedkommende bortfalder, naar de have fyldt det 25de Aar. Iøvrigt vil jeg, at de under nærværende Post omhandlede Renter, som jeg har tillagt min adopterede Datters Børn, efter disses Død i uendelige Grader skulle arves af deres Descendentere, iblandt hvilke jeg vil, at der i saa Henseende skal forholdes ligesom ovenfor under 4de Post er bestemt i Henseende til de der omhandlede Renter, saa at naar Nogen døer uden Livsarving, den saaledes ledige Andeel alene tilfalder Arvingerne af samme Linie, men uden at den nærmere af een Green udelukker de fiernere af en anden Green, men at i Tilfælde af at Alle af en Linie uddøe, den ledige Lod da arves in capita af alle Arvingerne af den eller de andre Linier, i hvilke der da fremdeles arves paa foranførte Maade, saalænge Nogen er til. Men naar de alle ere uddøde, skulle samtlige Renter, forsaavidt jeg ikke paa anden Maade har disponeret over dem, tilfalde ovennævnte Museum for at anvendes til Bestillinger til Fordeel for danske Kunstnere, i det Øiemed at befordre de skiønne Kunster i Danmark og at berige mit Museum med de saaledes af den udførte Arbeider, hvorhos jeg indskiærper og udtrykkeligen bestemmer, at Kapitalerne stedse skulle være uafhændelige, og at de af ingensomhelst Aarsag eller under intet Paaskud skulle nogensinde kunne formindskes eller forbruges.
6.
Min tidligere Udnævnelse af Hr. Filippo Ricci og mine Landsmænd, Hr. Johan Bravo og Hr. Albert Küchler, til som Testaments Executorer at sørge for den prompte og nøiagtige Fuldbyrdelse af Alt, hvad jeg har bestemt, paa den Maade og i den Form, som de maatte ansee for rigtigst, og med Myndiged til Hr. Ricci, eller, hvis han døer, til de overlevende Executorer, at udnævne en Anden istedetfor den, der maatte være død, eller muligen ikke vilde befatte sig hermed, stadfæster jeg herved i Henseende til de Forretninger, som Behandlingen af mit Stervbo maatte foranledige i Italien; men forsaavidt Skiftet bliver at behandle her i Staden, udnævner jeg herved Hr. Conferentsraad Collin, Hr. Professor Freund og Hr. Professor Thiele til saavel i Egenskab af Executorer i det Hele, efter bedste Skiønnende at overholde og fuldbyrde min i dette Document udtrykte sidste Villie, som i Særdeleshed til at besørge den fastsatte Fordeling af Renter, hvorhos det er mit Ønske, at Een af Kiøbenhavns Magistrats Midte maatte autoriseres til at besørge det Fornødne i Forening med de Executorer, som af mig ere valgte, hvilke herved bemyndiges til, forsaavidt dette bliver fornødent, at udnævne deres Eftermænd, hvilke for Fremtiden tillægges en lige Myndighed til at udnævne Andre, som dertil kunne ansees skikkede, med hvilke jeg dog ønsker, at stedse Een af Magistratens Medlemmer tager Deel i Bestyrelsen.
Kiøbenhavn, den 5te December 1838.
Conferentsraad Bertel Thorvaldsens
Gavebrev til Staden Kiøbenhavn
og Testament.
The undersigned, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, Konferensråd Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog and decorated with the Silver Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, at present Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen hereby declares that just as during my stay in Rome in a document deposited August 24th 1837 in Notarii Publici Torriani’s office, as well as in a later codicil also deposited in the mentioned office July 25th this year I have made known my last will and testament as to what is to be done after my death with my property; in this way I, who as a royal Danish public servant, especially as Professor at the Academy of Fine arts in Copenhagen am domiciled in this city, considering this and as regards that the main administration of my property which in time after my death will take place, may be carried out in this city, I have decided at my stay here to repeat and stipulate, what must be regarded as my last will, and inviolably kept.
For hereby I stipulate:
1.
To my native town of Copenhagen I donate all objects of art belonging to me, the ones that are already here in the capital as well as the much greater part, which is still in Rome, as well as the increase added until my death, it all consists of statues, and bas-reliefs in marble and in plaster, antique vases, carved stones, pastes, bronzes, terra-cottas, medals, paintings, magnificent works, engraved copperplates, loose copper engravings and lithographs, drawings, books and any other antique and modern objects belonging to science and the fine arts./Those of my works which were formerly commissioned by the Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace and for the Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen and which have in part been placed in their appointed places have of course not been included in this./.
The mentioned, my firm and irrevocable donation is subject to the following conditions:
a. that all the above mentioned objects should constitute one single and detached museum, which shall carry my name, so that it will never be possible to mingle with any other collections and consequently neither be decreased, be divided, or changed on any pretext or of any reason;
b. that the City of Copenhagen must organize suitable, single and fireproof premises for this museum;
c. that if difficulties should arise in organizing the mentioned premises I reserve for myself the rights to change my dispositions for the part of the abovementioned objects of art, which are in Rome, whereas the part of them, which has arrived, or still might arrive to Denmark is and remains the property of the City of Copenhagen.
d. that the statues and bas-reliefs, which at my death should be left unfinished, should be finished by professor Freund and Mr Pietro Galli, my student, at the expense of my estate after which these then finished works should be combined with and included in this donation on the same conditions.
2.
Regarding that in accordance with the permission I most graciously received March 12th 1833 I have as my daughter adopted Mrs Elisa Sophia Charlotte married to colonel v. Paulsen, and the mentioned marriage has been authorized by the Papal Holy See, I hereby declare that according to my earlier decision be a deposit in the National Bank I have ensured the mentioned, my adopted daughter the interest of 40,000 rbr silver that she must content herself with this, as it has always been my intention and still is that the mentioned interest given to her annually for life shall replace and be considered as her inheritance. I therefore repeat the stipulations in my abovementioned codicil according to which neither she nor her husband shall be able to make further claims after my death. Whereas the abovementioned interest after her decease shall pass on to her children from her marriage to colonel v Paulsen or any other marriage in case she is widowed, and to their descendants as long as any of these exist, but when they all may have died out, it must be used such as I have decided below regarding the part of my property for which I have not made particular arrangements.
3.
I reserve for myself the right to make arrangements for what I might consider proper in favour of any person who is dear to me and who has deserved it from me and therefore I hereby declare that when any sheet of paper is found among my papers and in my desk with specific grants or investments, which may be assumed to be written and signed by me after the drawing up of this my last will such a sheet of paper must be considered to be part of this my will and my heirs must be obliged accurately to fulfil what may be decreed by me in this way. Just as also the executors in Copenhagen of my will with extreme exactitude should execute these grants and nobody will in any way be able to oppose what I especially may have arranged as mentioned above. It is obvious, however, that the mentioned executors must have the right to investigate the authenticity of such a document, which might be referred to as well as whether it especially could be supposed to be older than August 24th 1837. Because hereby I declare any drawn up testamentary disposition regarding my fortune for invalid before the mentioned date if it cannot be regarded as repeated in distinct terms or implicitly by this document.
4.
I hereby certify my earlier stipulated decision for the benefit of the two children Albert and Carl born in the marriage between my abovementioned adopted daughter and colonel v Paulsen. According to this decision I have deposited a capital of 6,000 species for each of the mentioned children at the business house C.H. Donner in Altona for both in all a sum of 12,000 species. The last mentioned sum shall be placed in the public trustee’s office in Copenhagen to be invested after my death if I do not take other measures in that respect. Half of it to each of the abovementioned children will be increased by the interest and accumulate interest paid on this until they have attained 18 years of age. From this time either of them shall be entitled to collect and dispose of the interest of the same put out and in the abovementioned way increased capital under the supervision of a legally appointed trustee, which however stops when they have attained 25 years of age. It is still my will that if my above mentioned adopted daughter, either in her present marriage or another marriage she might possibly contract, gets more children, as far as no other measure has been taken about the fortune I leave, there must be assigned it or these or either of the mentioned children who while I am alive live to be at least one year, the interest of just as large a sum as has been deposited for either of the abovementioned children, namely 6,000 species which if that is the case must also be placed to return interest in the public trustee’s office in Copenhagen, but from which the interest, as long as the children stay with their father, is collected by him to be used to their benefit and after his death in the same way is collected by their guardian. But on the other hand, when any of the sons has attained the age of 18, the same shall be transferred to be used under the supervision of an appointed trustee and paid out to them from the time they have attained the age of 25. When any of the two abovementioned children or any other of Mrs Paulsen’s children who in agreement with what is written above will enjoy the mentioned interests and by its death leaves children or more distant descendants, these will inherit in capita and in infinite degrees, the interests which have thus become available, which must be divided among the heirs in equal lots, regardless of sex and so that those of one branch who are more distant in degree as far as their ancestors have died out must be given access to the interests equal to the more close ones of another branch of the same line. But should one of these lines die out, the available interests will go to the one or the other lines favoured in the same way in each of which the more distant ones in one branch also will inherit in capita as well as the closer ones of another branch. But when none of these lines exists any more, the interests will go to the others of Mrs Paulsen’s descendants in accordance with the abovementioned stipulations and when all these lines might have died out, the mentioned interests must go to the museum which as written above will be established and carry my name, and with this be treated in the same way as I below will decide regarding the part of my property for which I have not made any other particular arrangements.
5.
As regards the part of my property for which I have not made particular arrangements or still may make arrangements about it is my will that after my death all claims an unpaid capital are called in, and that anything that can be classed with my left fortune (as far as it does not consist of ready money) such as royal bonds and other Government bonds, movable property, royal property, rights, without exception must be converted into cash. The sum from this and the cash left after me after my funeral and other expenses in connection with my estate have been paid must for ever be placed in the public trustee’s office in this city whereas the interests from it should go to all my abovementioned adopted daughter’s children alive at my death, who as my residuary legatees, regardless of sex, should each enjoy an equal part, but always provided that the father as long as the children are supported by him receive their interests to use them for their benefit whereas each of the children having attained the age of 18 shall be paid the same accumulated interest under the supervision of a trustee who, however as regards the sons, discontinues when they have attained 25 years of age. Furthermore I wish that the interests dealt with under this entry, which I have bestowed on my adopted daughter’s children after their death in infinite degrees should be inherited by their descendants whom I wish to be treated as above under the 4th entry in that respect and what has been decided as regards the interests mentioned there. When anyone dies without an heir of the body the then available part will alone go to the heirs of the same line, but so that the closer ones of one branch will not exclude the more distant ones of another branch. In case all from one line should die out, the available lot will be inherited in capita by all the heirs of the line or the other lines in which they will still inherit in the mentioned way as long as anyone is alive. When all have died out, all interests, as far as I have not made arrangements for them, should go to the abovementioned museum to be used on commissions for the benefit of Danish artists with the purpose of promoting the fine arts in Denmark and enrich my museum with the works executed by them, and I here impress and explicitly stipulate that the capitals must for ever be inalienable and they must for no reason or under no pretext decrease or be spent.
6.
I hereby confirm my earlier appointment of Mr Filippo Ricci and my countrymen Mr Johan Bravo and Mr Albert Küchler as the executors under the will to see to the punctual and precise fulfilment of everything I have stipulated, in the way and the form they might consider best and with authority to Mr Ricci, or if he dies, to the surviving executors to appoint another one instead of the one who might have deceased or possibly will not have to do with this any longer, as regards the matters which the administration of my estate might give rise to in Italy; But if the administration of my estate will take place in this city I hereby appoint Konferensråd Collin, professor Freund and professor Thiele in the capacity of executors of it all, to the best of their judgment to keep and fulfil my last will expressed in this document as well as especially to see to the stipulated distribution of interests, where it is my wish that one person from the midst of the corporation of Copenhagen might be authorized to do the needful together with the executors who have been appointed by me and who hereby are authorized to appoint their successors if this should be necessary and equal authority is for the future conferred on them to appoint others who might seem suitable for this, with whom however, I wish that ever one of the members of the corporation will be on the board.
Copenhagen, December 5th 1838
Konferensråd Bertel Thorvaldsen’s
Deed of Gift to the City of Copenhagen
And his will.
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Thorvaldsens gavebrev og testamente af 5.12.1838. Dette testamente (eller en kopi heraf) har været vedlagt brev af 11.12.1838 fra Thorvaldsen til Københavns Magistrat, jf. Axel Ravn, op. cit. 1938.
Dette gavebrev og testamente er kongeligt konfirmeret 8.12.1838.
Se også oversigten over alle Thorvaldsens testamenter.
NN
Last updated 02.10.2017