Bertel Thorvaldsen
Montenero
Kunstakademiet, København
København
Ingen udskrift.
Dateringen fremgår af brevet.
The commentary for this letter is not available at the moment.
Montenero den 6 August 1804
Underdanigst Pro MemoraI
Efter lang Tavshed giver jeg mig den Ære at tilskrive det Kongelige Academi; da det har været mig umueligt før at opfylde denne under[da]nige Pligt formedelst en langvarig Sygdom som havde berøvet mig alle mine Kræfter, og sadt mig i den ynkværdigst Forfatning. Nu begynder min Helbred meget at bedres, hvilket jeg forskylder vor gode Minister Kammerherre Schubart som med det ædelste Hjerte har sørget for mig; og da jeg fornemlig maae tilskrive den usunde Romerske Luft medens Sommer Maanederne min Sundheds Tab, har jeg med Skjønsomhed taget imod hans velmeende Tilbud at tilbringe dem paa hans Lysted i Toscana hvor jeg allerede føler Virkningen af denne Sundere og kiølere Luft. Jeg tænker om faae Dage at giøre en Rejse til Carara for at indkiøbe Marmor, og haaber jeg at være i Rom i September for der med fornyede Kræfter at arbeyde paa min Jason om hvilken jeg havde den Ære at melde Academiet i min seeneste Skrivelse. Siden den Tid har jeg antaget et Arbeyde for den Rusiske Grevinde Voronzoff som bestaaer i en Ganymed en Bacus og en Gruppe af Amor og Pigsché alle af 6 Romerske Palmer Høyde. Jeg smigrer mig med det Haab, at Academiet paa hvis Godhed jeg har havdt saa mange Prøver ey vil tage det fortrydeligt op at jeg søger ved at tage mig fremmed Arbeyd paa, at tilbagevinde den Tid, og oprette det Tab jeg har giordt i Revolutionstiden, som standsede Konstnernes Fortskridte og som blev paafuldt af min græsselige Sygdom. Jeg vil nu med fordobbelt Iver begynde at arbeyde og at vise mig værdig til det meget Gode som Academiet har bevist mig imedens Høytsamme opmuntrede mig ved en Aalig Underholdning. Mit Hjerte føler dybt at uden samme havde jeg ikke kundet giordt de Fortskridt som nu bidrager til en ærefuld Bane, og til saa mange værdige Kunstkjenderes Yndest.
Det være mig tilladt at anbefale mig i det Kongelige Academies Bevaagenhed, og Vedligeholdelsen af dets Beskyttelse, som er mig saa vigtigt; da jeg skal uafladelig stræbe at gjøre mig Dets høye Gunst værdig
underdanigst
B. Thorvaldsen
Montenero, August 6th 1804
Most humble Pro Memoria.
After a long silence I have the honour of writing to the Academy; as it has been impossible for me to fulfil this humble obligation because of a long illness which had deprived me of all my energy and thrown me into the most miserable condition. Now my health is beginning to improve a great deal which I owe to our kind minister chamberlain Schubart who with the most noble heart has taken care of me; and as I probably have to blame the unhealthy Roman air during the summer months for the loss of my health I have judiciously accepted his well-intentioned offer to spend them at his country house in Tuscany where I already feel the effect of the more healthy and cooler air. In a few days I intend to make a journey to Carrara to buy marble, and I hope to be in Rome in September with renewed energy to work there on my Jason about which I had the honour to inform the Academy in my latest letter. Since that time I have accepted work for the Russian Countess Voronzoff, which consists of a Ganymede, a Bacchus and a group of Cupid and Psyche all 6 Roman Palms high. I indulge in the hope that the Academy of whose kindness I have had many proofs will not mind that by accepting work from foreigners I seek to regain the time and make good the loss I suffered during the times of revolution, which arrested the development of artists and which was followed by my horrible illness. I shall now with redoubled zeal begin to work and to show myself deserving the great benefits which the Academy has shown me while the same encouraged me by an annual support. My heart feels deeply that without the same I should not have been able to make the progress which is now contributing to a creditable course and to the favour of so many worthy connoisseurs.
Let me commend myself to the good graces of the Academy and the upkeep of its protection which is so important to me; as I constantly shall strive to deserve its great kindness.
Most humbly,
B. Thorvaldsen
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Om modtagelsen af dette brev hedder det i Kunstakademiets dagbog under 27.8.1804: “Skrivelse til Academiet fra Hr. Thorvaldsen blev forelæst, dat[.] Montenero d. 6 Aug. d. A. hvori meldes at han formedelst langvarig Sygdom er blevet standset i sit Arbejde paa Jason, om hvilken hans seneste Skrivelse til Academiet giør Melding, men at han nu føler sig bedre og haaber i Rom at tilendebringe saavel dette Arbejde som andre for Grevinde Voranzoff af ham antagne Arbeider, bestaaende af en Ganymed, en Bacchus, og en Gruppe af Amor og Psyche, alle af 6 romerske Palmers Høide.”
Last updated 17.07.2017
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.