25.7.1838

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

Antagelig Rom

Recipient

Omnes

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift.

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

A Danish translation of the Italian draft of Thorvaldsen’s “secret” codicil dated 25.7.1838.

Document

I Guds Navn Amen

Ligesom jeg, i Anledning af min adopt. Datters Sophies Ægteskab med Oberst Paulsen, og muligen siden efter ved nogen udstedt Auctorition, hvori jeg har erkiendt bemeldte Sophie, som min eneste Datter og Arving, og ved at bestemme hende en Medgift, har forhen sagt at hun skulde være Arving efter mit Testament, saaledes, paa det at der ikke skal opstaae Spørgsmaal ell. Stridigheder, erklærer jeg ved dette Codicil, at naar jeg har erkiendt ovenmeldte Sophie som eneste Arving, og har kaldt hende testamentarisk Arving, har jeg altid forstaaet det sagt i Almindelighed, og uden at tilstaae hende nogen særdeles Rettighed, udenfor dem, som jeg, i Anl. af Ægteskabet, havde formelig tillagt hende, og som jeg i Testamentet har villet tilstaae hende, under Titel af Legat. Og derfor, i det jeg tilintetgiør enhver anden Act, som kunde angaae nogen Disposition, som sidste Villie, Donation &c, vil og erklærer jeg, at alt skal stemme overeens med og svare til de Bestemmelser, som indeholdes i mit Testament, der er gientaget af Notarius d. …. hvilket skal betragtes som Basis og Norm for min uforanderlige og bestandige Villie, som jeg beder mine Exsecutores Testamenti at udføre nøiagtigen, og med den Erklæring, at dersom ovemmeldte Sophie ikke er fornøiet, skal det afgiøres efter Lovene

Og eftersom, efter mit Testament(s Udfærdigelse) uheldigviis er død Hr. Chiaro som jeg havde udnævnt til Ex.test., saa udnævner jeg i hans Sted Hr Ricci med samme Myndighed.

Og dette vil jeg skal være min Villie, som om den udgiorde en Deel af mit Testament, erklærende, at dersom den ej er giældende som saadan, skal den giælde som donatio mortis causa, og paa enhver anden bedre Maade, – og saal. Disponerer jeg.

25 Julii 1838

Oversættelse af dokument

In the name of God, Amen.

As I have earlier said, on the occasion of my adopted daughter Sophie’s marriage to colonel Paulsen and possibly later or at some issued authorization, in which I have acknowledged the mentioned Sophie as my only daughter and heiress and by appointing her a marriage portion, as I have said that she should be heiress according to my will, like that I declare with this codicil, so that questions or discords will not arise, that when I have acknowledged abovementioned Sophie as my only heir and have called her a legatee, I have always understood it as a general expression and without giving her any special privileges apart from the ones which I on the occasion of the marriage have conferred on her, and which I in my will have wanted to confer on her under claim of pension. That is why, destroying any other document which might have reference to any disposition, such as last will and testament, donation, etc. I want and declare that everything must agree with and correspond to the decisions which are contained in my will, which has been repeated by notarius publicus [d] ….. which must be considered as basis and norm for my unchangeable and everlasting will, which I ask my Executores Testamenti to carry out accurately, and with the declaration that if the abovementioned Sophie is not pleased, it must be decided according to the laws.

As Mr Chiaro unfortunately has died after the drawing up of my will, whom I had appointed Ex. test. I appoint Mr Ricci in his place with the same power.

This I want to be my will and testament, as if it constituted part of my will, declaring that if it is not valid as such, it must serve as donation mortis causa, and in any better way – and such is my commitment.

July 25th 1838


[Translated by Karen Husum]

General Comment

En oversættelse til dansk af den italienske kladde til Thorvaldsens “hemmelige” kodicil af 25.7.1838, jf. Axel Ravn, op. cit. 1938.
 
Se også oversigten over alle Thorvaldsens testamenter.

Amanuensis

Jonas Collin

Archival Reference

Thorvaldsens Museums Oprettelse, 84k

Other references

Subjects

Persons

Last updated 15.10.2020