Bertel Thorvaldsen
Rom
Kunstakademiet, København
København
Udskrift: Til Det Kongelige Akademie for de skjønne Konster Copenhague Danemarc par Hambourg
Tilskrift: Til Det Kongelige Akademie for de skjønne Konster.
Dateringen fremgår af brevet.
Thorvaldsen is grateful for his appointment as director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. A similar post at the Accademia di S. Luca in Rome has taught him how difficult it is, and he therefore asks for indulgence. He thinks that he will be able to begin his journey to Denmark after the departure of the corvette Galathea from Leghorn in the summer of 1833, but he does not want his presence in Copenhagen to cause housing problems for his colleagues.
Af det Kongelige Akademies meget ærede Skrivelse af 4de. April 1833I erfarer jeg at Høisamme i Forsamlingen d: 28de. Marts d:A:II har behaget at udnævne mig til Dets Directeur.
I det jeg med den dybeste Anerkjendelse modtager dette ny Beviis paa Akademiets hædrende Opmærksomhed imod mig, føler jeg det nødvendigt i Forveien at udbede mig Overbærelse, da allerede Erfaringen i et lignende Embede herIII, har lært mig hvormeget jeg trænger til samme.
Med Hensyn til det Høje Akademies Spørgsmaal om Bestemmelsen for min AfreiseIV fra Rom, da troer jeg med Vished at kunde tiltræde samme kort efter Corvettens AfgangV fra Livorno med de indskibede Arbeider.
Med megen Taknemmelighed seer jeg Akademiets Omhu for mig i Henseende til Boelig og AttelierVI, og jeg bemærker kun at jeg nødig ved min Nærværelse hjemme vilde give Anledning til Boeligs-Uleilighed for Nogen af mine andre KonstbrødreVII. –
| Rom d: 14de. Junii 1833. | Med dybeste Ærbødighed |
| A[l]bert Thorvaldsen |
From the favour of April 4th 1833 from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts I learn that the gentlemen at a meeting on March 28th this year have pleased to appoint me its principal.
As I with sincere appreciation accept this new proof of the honourable attention towards me of the Academy I feel it is necessary in advance to ask for indulgence, as the experience from a similar office here has already taught me how much I need it.
As to the high Academy’s question about the decision for my departure from Rome, I think I certainly shall be able to start shortly after the corvette’s departure from Leghorn with my works on board.
I notice with deep gratitude the care of the Academy as regards residence and studio, and I only point out that I should hate to be the cause of inconvenience in living-quarters to any of my brothers in art. –
| Rome, June 14th 1833 | Most respectfully, |
| Albert Thorvaldsen |
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Ludvig Bødtcher
Last updated 24.04.2017
Cf. letter dated 4.4.1833 from the Academy of Fine Ats to Thorvaldsen.
Cf. the Thorvaldsen chronology 28.3.1833.
Thorvaldsen was president of the Accademia di S. Luca in Rome, cf. the Thorvaldsen chronology 16.12.1825.
Thorvaldsen was planning to go to Copenhagen in the autuimn of 1832, but the journey was postponed several times and not begun until 5.8.1838.
See documents regarding the subject Cancelled Journeys to Denmark.
Cf. the article Transportation of Thorvaldsen’s Artworks to Copenhagen 1833.
Cf. Thorvaldsen’s residence at Charlottenborg, cf. the article Thorvaldsen’s Residence, Studio and Museum in the Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen.
The Danish painter J.L. Lund had lived in Thorvaldsen’s residence since 1820 and was to move out when Thorvaldsen returned, cf. the article Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Residences.