Bertel Thorvaldsen
København
Kunstakademiet, København
København
Tilskrift: Til Det Kongelige Mahler Billedhuger og Bygnings Academie
Dateringen fremgår af brevet.
Thorvaldsen applies for a grant from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
Underdanig Pro MemoriaI
Efter at Have Vundet det Kongelige Academies Store Guld PræmieII og der ved bliven Opmundret til Med større fliid at Dyrke Kunsten Paa den Nyttigste Maade Seer Jeg mig ikke istand til af mangel Paa formue at Opfylde denne min Eneste Ønske, Da Det er ikke Mulig at Dyrke Kunsten og tillige Arbeide for At fortiene det nødvendige, Det bliver derfor Min underdanige Begierring til Det Kongelige Academie At Jeg Maatte Nyde Di 100 Rd som Er udsatt for en Ung Konstner Da det Altiid skal blive mig en Hellig Pligt at Viise min fliid for at Giøre mig samme fortient.| Kiobenh: d 2de Decb: 1793 |
Jeg for bliver di Høye Herrers Ringest Tienere B Thorvaldsen |
Humble Pro Memoria
Having been awarded the large gold medal of the Academy of Fine Arts and thus been encouraged to cultivate art with greater diligence in the most useful manner I do not find myself able to fulfill this my only wish because of lack of means, as it is not possible to cultivate art and work to earn what is necessary as well. Therefore it will be my humble applications to the Academy of Fine Arts that I may receive the 100 rix-dollars which have been offered to a young artist, as it always will be a holy obligation for me to give evidence of my diligence to deserve the above mentioned.| Copenhagen, 2nd of December 1793 |
I remain your most humble servant, B. Thorvaldsen |
[Translated by Karen Husum]
This application was granted as indicated in the journal of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts for 2.12.1793 (The Danish National Archives, Kunstakademiets arkiv, Akademiforsamlingen, Dagbog):
“Application from the student Thorvaldsen, who has won great prizes in sculpture, to receive the 100 rix-dollars a year which have been designated for young engravers; the decision of the Academy was that Thorvaldsen was to receive the said 100 rix-dollars for one year, after which time they would see how diligent he was. His grant was to begin on the first of January, which is humbly recommended to His Royal Highness.”
The royal highness in question was arveprins Frederik, the Heir Presumptive, who was president of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He approved the recommendation of the Academy; see the recommendation of the Academy of Fine Arts of 7.12.1793 with the resolution of 18.12.1793 in The Danish National Archives, Kunstakademiets arkiv, Akademiforsamlingen, journalsager, 1793, I nr.5.
The recommendation of the Academy of Fine Arts reads as follows:
“Humble recommendation. The student Bertel Thorvaldsen, who in the latest competition was awarded the first prize of the Academy and generally has distinguished himself favourably, has applied for support for the continuation of his studies. According to the regulations of the Academy, a yearly sum of 100 rix-dollars has been designated for a young engraver in order to encourage the students to apply themselves to an art which at that time lacked students; but as this cause no longer exists since the State is as well supplied in this as in other branches of art, and as no engraver has applied for this pension, the Academy has granted this pension for one year to the said Thorwaldsen, who holds out excellent hopes of favourable progress, and who is also needy, and most humbly submits this decision for the approbation of His Royal Highness.
The Royal Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, the 7th of December 1793.”
The letter is signed by the professors of the Academy; Johannes Wiedewelt, Nicolai Abildgaard, J.M. Preisler, Andreas Weidenhaupt, Jens Juel, Peter Meyn og C.F. Harsdorff.
According to Thiele I, p. 38 Thorvaldsen wrote the application at the request of Nicolai Abildgaard when a one-year grant had fallen vacant. The grant was also called the engravers’ pension.
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Peter og Johannes helbreder en halt, juni 1793 - 7. august 1793, inv.nr. A830 |
Last updated 09.02.2016
Latin for “in remembrance”, used to recall oneself to somebody. The expression was originally a polite introduction in letters to persons of a higher rank, often civil servants. Gradually it was also used more generally in letters to or from officials, often written in one word. The expression appears frequently in the more formal letters in the Archive.
In 1793 Thorvaldsen won the large gold medal of the Academy, F35, for the relief Peter and John Healing a Lame Man, A830, see the Chronology.