4.5.1829

Sender

Christian Horneman

Sender’s Location

København

Recipient

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Recipient’s Location

Rom

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift.

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Hornemann reports the latest gossip from the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and about their mutual acquaintances. His own health is poor. He thinks that too much importance is attached to rank and title at the Academy, and that there is too much slander and misbehaviour. C.F. Høyer has been expelled from the Academy. Andreas Ludvig Koop has not been admitted, and Hornemann thinks that he should stay in Rome. He praises Thorvaldsen’s Venus with the Apple and Cupid Triumphant, which he has seen in an exhibition. He is annoyed that people have become so narrow-minded that the sex of the statues has to be covered by fig leaves.

Document

Høystærede Ven Kiøbenhavn 4 May 1829

Det er alt længe siden jeg har ønsket at skrive dem til, men desto værre har jeg ingen Leilighed havd før end nu, da Prinds PalazoloI, den Neapolitanske Minister har havd den Godhed at ville besørge det, da han tager fra Marseille med Dampskibet vil han aflevere det i Civita vechia. –
Jeg havde den Glæde for en Tid siden at faae en Hilsen fra Dem ved Hr FreundII denne Mand gefalder mig ret godt, han er en af mine Folk, thi hvad han siger kommer fra Hiertet, ey heller er han nogen KrybereIII eller Pedant, og jeg troer at han vist nok kan stifte meget godt i Academiet naar han engang der har taget Sæde. – Nu til Efteraaret er det alerede 10 Aar sidenIV jeg havde den Fornøyelse at tale med Dem i vores Fødebye, Gud; hvor er den Tid bleven af, med mig er der foregaaen megen Forandring, jeg er for det første bleven ældre, ja det er De jo ogsaa, men hos mig har det forvoldet en stor Svækkelse i mit UnderparlementV saaledes at jeg i fleere Aar ikke mere kommer i nogen Selskab og siden forige April 1828 ikke har været ude af mine VærelserVI, men med alt dette befinder jeg mig Gudskelov meget vel, og mit gode Humeur har slet ikke tabt sig, men hvad kan alt dette hielpe, naar Døden henter den eene efter den anden af mine Selskabs Brødre, og jeg ikke saa let kan faae nogen igien[,] uden dens ved De jo hvor flau Conversationen er her i Byen, og at det mest gaaer ud paa at hegleVII den eene [eller] den anden igienem. I Morges Klokken 4 døde Etatsraad WeinvigVIII, Director over det Molkiske Galerie, og ved Kongens Haand Bibliotehk[,] dette var ogsaa et stort Tab for mig. Og som han tidt havde Leilighed til at tiene mig med. Konsten gaaer det i almindelighed usselt, naar jeg untager de to Historiemalere EkersbergIX og LundX, Landskabmaleren og Conservateur MøllerXI, og Portraitmaler JensenXII.
Gjerne ville jeg undgaae at opvarte Dem med JeremiaderXIII, men hvorledes kan det være andet naar en Kunstner i Dannemark skriver til sin Ven i Udlandet og fra et Land hvor ingen er estimert uden for sin Rang eller TittelXIV selv i Academiet gaaer det nu saavidt at der ere ligesaamange titulaire Professorer som tienstgiørende, De kan altsaa tænke hvor jeg bliver af i saadant forneemt Selskab, men Gud være Loved, Prinds ChristianXV, har alt for fleere Aar siden været saa naadig at fritage mig for at komme i Academiet, jeg støder følgelig sield[e]n eller aldrig paa dem. – Fra den Ulykkelige HöyerXVI kan jeg paa anden Haand hilse Dem, thi hos mig kommer han aldrig, han nærmer sig Graven – Der alene vil den stakkels Mand finde Ro og Fred, De kan indsee hvor dybt vore Landsmænd ere siunkne, og hvor Nedrighed og Kryberi tiltager, at fra det Øyeblik han blev forjaget af sit Atellier, mistede sin Boelig, og udslettet af AcademietXVII lader intet Meneske male det mindste hos ham, ikke det ubetydeligste Transperant som man nu bruger saa mange af, blot for ikke at fortørne PrindsenXVIII, men denne Fyrste har tilbudet ham Penge, som han dog ikke modtog. Høyer er jo heller ingen Forbrydere men en ærlig og skikkelig MandXIX.
Hvorledes gaaer det den Flittige CoopXX, hils ham, det store MalerieXXI han forige Aar sendte hertil, overraskede mig meget, og jeg forsikrer Dem at det fandt almindelig Bifald og passerte for det smukkeste Stykke paa UdstillingenXXII at hans Plan ikke Lykkedes ham ved AcademietXXIII, har ærgret mig meget og jeg forsikrer at jeg slet ingen Andeel har i den heele Afaire, thi om jeg ogsaa havde været der, kunde det ikke have hiulpen, da der ikke blev BallotertXXIV[.] Men hvad skal man sige, han [kan] være glad og stolt af at besidde Derres Venskab min ædle Ven, det er meere en[d] at være Medlem af alle Academier i Verden, og jeg vil raade ham at blive i RomXXV thi her er reent ud sagt skit, og kommer han engang hiem vil det fortryde ham. – man har ingen Begreb om vor uselt det er[.]
Derres store Mesterværker henrykker alle ædle og dybtfølende Kienderes Siele, men desto vær[r]e er her kun saa faa af demXXVI, Derres VenusXXVII første gang jeg saa den, blev jeg ongefærXXVIII til Mode som i den Tid vi gik paa Academiet for nogle og 40 Aar sidenXXIX, mindst troede jeg dengang at Thorwaldsens Kunst skulde frembringe de Følelser som nu ikke engang en syttenaar[i]g Tøs er istand til at frembringe hos mig. – Derres AmorXXX er et af de meest Sublime Værker jeg har seet i Billedhukker Kunsten aldrig saa jeg noget ædlere[,] kuns SkadeXXXI at Hyklerie, Pedanterie, og en lile smule Uvidenhed har bedækket hans søde frugtbringende PriapXXXII med et Helvedes stort FigenbladXXXIII forfærdiget hos Blikkenslageren paa Østergaden, de husker jo nok ham der havde den smukke Søster som døde i Barsel Seng [overstreget tekst]XXXIV. Men det værste er, at dette Satans Figenblad, giør at Amors Underdeel fik synes kortere end Overdeelen, som den dog ikke er. Kort Tiderne har forandret sig, vore Damer ere blevne saa Dydige, at de ikke tør vove at see paa det kiæreste de har i denne Verden. Hvad i øvrigt her paa CharlottenborgXXXV ere skeete for Forandringer og ForskiønnelserXXXVI vil Herr Professor ThieleXXXVII best kunde sige Dem, og sandt er det at Academiet har faaet en smuk nye Kiole paa, men dets Smaatarme skriger af Sult saa det er en Jammer at høre paa, det vil sige Kunstnerne sulter, hvad er da det Heele andet end Vind og Luft og Blæst.
Døde ere her endeel af Derres Bekiendtere, saasom vores Ungdoms Cameradt Hr Kobberstiker FlindtXXXVIII, Her Medailleur HolmXXXIX Academiets ældste Medlem og bekiendt ved sit store Guldmedaille Stykke 1779 der forestiller en BatailleXL. Herr Portraitmaler HansenXLI døde for et Aar [siden] paa samme Dag som hans Kone dog uden at den eene vidste noget til den Anden Efterladende sig 6 Umyndige Børn. Gamle LorentzenXLII døde forige Aar i April og begge disse Herrers LogierXLIII [ere] igien besatte af de Herrer Thiele og MøllersXLIV – ClemensXLV er meget svag og vil nok snart reise, han er 84 Aar gammel ogsaa hans Høyvelbaarenhed hr: Conferentzraad Hansen Commandeur af Dannebrog befinder sig ikke vel og har længe ikke været i Academiet.
Lad os nu tale lidt om de levende, i Dag er her Stads i gaden, Forlovelsen imellem Prinds Ferdinand og Prinsesse CarolineXLVI bliver ofentlig declaretet paa Slottet Christiansborg, hvor der er stor Cour og Tafel for mange Hundrede Personer i Aften skal heele Byen Ilumineres, mig kan det i grunden være ligegyldig thi jeg har værken Udgift eller Intægt, derved, men det glæder mig dog for vores gode gamle Konge at han nu seer sine Døttre vel anbragte thi som man siger skal Ferdinand være Statholder i Slesvig naar den gamle døer, som ikke kan vare længe. Den unge Prinds FritsXLVII lever her med Kongelig Pragt og hans Hofstat maa koste meget, han er meget munter. –
HornbeckXLVIII beder Dem at være hilset, da KochXLIX blev Hofbügmester kunde de ikke gaae ham forbi, og blev han det ogsaa, men siden til FormælingenL blev Koch Ridder, das ist was anders. Fra den lile Architect SchmidtLI kan jeg ogsaa hilse Dem, han havde nær bruken Halsen, thi mine kiære Akademiske Kunst Brødre fik ham fat og bearbeidede ham saaledes at han skal tænke paa dem saalænge han lever, først kunde han ikke blive antagen da han kuns havde faaet den lille GuldLII, nu Concourerte han med til den store, men imod forventning blev den ham tilkiendt, nu var det godt, men Fanden har immer sine Udveie nu tilkiendegav man ham at han ikke skulle modtage Medaillen førend han havde taget sin Exsamen, her lod de ham dumpe saa var det ude og han har i denne Time ikke faaet denLIII, han var nu i samme Stilling som HoyerLIV men han var klogere thi han forlod sit Fødeland reiste til Altona med Kone Barn og Moder og det gaar ham nu fortræffelig, da De min Ven selv er Professor ved Akademiet maa det jo interressere Dem hvordan det gaar her
Derres indtil Døden hengivne Ven og Tiener
C Horneman

Oversættelse af dokument

Dear friend Copenhagen May 4th 1829

I have long wished to write to you, but unfortunately I have had no possibility until now, when Prince Palazolo, the Neapolitan minister has been so kind to carry it, when he goes from Marseille by the steamer he will deliver it in Civita vechia. –
A while ago I had the pleasure to have greetings from you by Mr Freund. I like this person very much, he is my type, what he says comes from the heart, and he is neither lazy nor a pedant, and I think that he will be able to do good things at the Academy once he has taken his seat. – This autumn it will already be 10 years since I had the pleasure to speak to you in our native town. Heavens, where has the time gone. As for me, I have changed much, firstly I have grown older, so have you, but with me it has brought a great enfeeblement in my lower parts so that I have not gone to any party for several years, and since April before last, 1828 I have not left my rooms, but with all this I feel very well, thank Goodness, and I have not lost my sense of humour, but how can all this help me when Death takes one after the other of the brothers of my society, and I cannot easily find others[,] without that you know how dull conversation is in this city and mostly it is about hauling the one [or] the other over the coals. This morning at 4 o’clock Weinvig died, titular Councillor of State, Director of the Molkiske Galerie and of the King’s reference library[,] this was also a sad loss to me. And he had often occasion to help me in some matters. In general the conditions for art are miserable, except for the two history painters Eckersberg and Lund, the landscape painter and restorer Møller and portrait painter Jensen.
I should like not to entertain you with tales of woe, but how can it be otherwise when an artist in Denmark writes to his friend abroad and from a country where no one is respected without status or title, even within the Academy things have got to such a point that there are just as many titular professors as there are on active service, so you can imagine where I am in such a distinguished company, but thank Goodness, several years ago it pleased Prince Christian to release me from going to the Academy, so I rarely or never encounter them, – I can give you the miserable Höyer’s regards at second hand , as he never comes to see me, he has one foot in the grave – Only there, the poor man will find peace. You may realize how low our countrymen have sunk and how meanness and groveling increase, when from the moment he was driven away from his studio, lost his residence and was removed from the Academy no person has had anything painted by him, not even the most trivial transparency which are now used so often, in order not to rouse the anger of the Prince, but this prince has offered him money, which he did not accept, however. Høyer is no criminal, but an honest and worthy fellow.
How is the diligent Coop getting on, please give him my regards, I was very surprised by the large painting he sent here the year before last, I assure you it won general approval and was considered the most beautiful piece at the exhibition. I have been much annoyed that his plan at the Academy did not succeed and I assure you that I had no part in the whole affair, for even if I had been there, it could not have helped as there was no casting of votes[.] But what can I say, he [can] be happy and proud to enjoy your frienship, my noble friend, that is more than being a member of all Academies in the world, and I advise him to stay in Rome, as frankly speaking here things are bad, and if he once comes home, he will regret it. – you have no idea how bad it is[.]
Your great masterpieces fascinate the minds of all noble and sensitive connoisseurs, but unfortunately there are only a few of them, when I first saw your Venus I felt more or less like the time we went to the Academy about 40 years ago, I least then thought that the art of Thorvaldsen would raise the feelings which not even a seventeen-year-old girl is able to produce in me now. – Your Cupid is one of the most sublime works I have seen in sculpture, I never saw anything more noble[,] it is only a pity that hypocrisy, pedantry and a little ignorance have covered his lovely fruitful Priapus with the hell of a great fig leaf made at the tinsmith in Østergade, you will remember the one who had the beautiful sister who died in childbed. [deleted text]. But the worst thing is that this damned fig leaf makes Cupid’s under part seem shorter than the upper part, which it is not however. In short, times have changed, our ladies have become so virtuous that they dare not look at what they cherish most in this world. What other changes and improvements have taken place here at Charlottenborg professor Thiele will best be able to tell you about, and truly the Academy has got a new beautiful appearance, but its bowels are starving, it is pure misery, that is to say the artists are starving, what is it all but wind and air. Several of your acquaintances have died such as the companion of our youth the engraver Mr Flindt, medalist Mr Holm, the oldest member of the Academy and known by his piece for the great Gold Medal 1779 presenting a battle. Portrait painter Mr Hansen died a year [ago] on the same day as his wife, however without one knowing about the other, they left 6 children under age. Old Mr Lorentzen died the year before last in April and the habitations of both these gentlemen have again been occupied by the gentlemen Thiele and Møllers – Clemens is rather weak and is sure to leave soon, he is 84 years old, and also Mr. Conferentzraad Hansen Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog is not well, and he has not been at the Academy for a while.
Now let us speak a little about the living, today there are great doings in the street, the engagement between Prince Ferdinand and Princess Caroline will be made public at Christiansborg Palace, where there are great court and a royal banquet for many hundred persons, tonight the whole town will be illuminated, actually it may all be the same to me, as I have neither expenses nor income by it, but I am pleased for the sake of our good, old King that he now can see his daughters well placed for as they say Ferdinand is to be governor in Slesvig when the old one dies, which may not be long. The young Prince Frits lives here in Royal state and his Royal Household must cost a lot, he is very merry. –
Hornbeck sends his regards, when Koch was appointed Hofbügmester they could not pass him by, and so he was also appointed, but later at the wedding Koch was knighted, das ist was anders. I also have regards from the small architect Schmidt, he almost broke his neck as my dear academic art brothers got hold of him and treated him so that he will think of them as long as he lives, at first he could not be accepted as he had only received the small Gold, now he competed for the big one, but contrary to expectations he was awarded it, now that was good, but the devil has its expedients, now he was informed that he would not receive the medal until he had passed his exam, here they flunked him and that was the end of that and he has not received it yet, he was now in the same situation as Hoyer, but he was wiser , as he left his native country, went to Altona with wife,child and mother and he is doing very well, as you yourself, my friend, is a professor at the Academy you must be interested in how matters are here.
Your till death affectionate friend and servant
C Horneman


[Translated by Karen Husum]

Archival Reference

m14 1829, nr. 64

Thiele

Ikke omtalt hos Thiele.

Subjects

Persons

Works

A12 Venus med æblet, 1813 - maj 1816, inv.nr. A12
A22 Den triumferende Amor, 1814, inv.nr. A22

Commentaries

  1. A member of the Neapolitan aristocratic family of Ruffo, possible Fulco Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau (1801-1848), 8th prince of Palazzolo.

  2. Thorvaldsen’s pupil, the Danish sculptor Hermann Ernst Freund, who, after ten years in Rome, returned to Denmark in the autumn of 1828 and apparently brought greetings from Thorvaldsen to Horneman.

  3. Dvs. doven eller sløv person, jf. Ordbog over det danske Sprog.

  4. >Thorvaldsen and Horneman became acquainted during Thorvaldsen’s “Sojourn in Denmark 1819-20. On that occasion, Horneman also wrote in Thorvaldsen’s album, see his greeting dated 11.5.1820.

  5. In the latter part of his life, Horneman suffered from ill-health Eventually, his legs were paralyzed, and he was unable to leave his residence at Charlottenborg.

  6. Cf. the related article Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Residences. Horneman lived in apartment Ød from 1817 until his death in 1844.

  7. Dvs. kritisere eller skælde nogen ud, jf. Ordbog over det danske Sprog.

  8. Niels Henrich Weinwich, author, librarian, titular Councillor of State.

  9. The Danish painter C.W. Eckersberg.

  10. The Danish painter J.L. Lund, who executed a major series of paintings about the history of religion in Denmark for Christiansborg Palace 1827-1843.

  11. The Danish painter J.P. Møller.

  12. The Danish painter C.A. Jensen, who was Horneman’s rival because they both painted portraits, cf. letter dated 27.11.1824.

  13. Dvs. jammer og beklagelser.

  14. Here Horneman suggests that the system of appointments at the Academy of Fine Arts is corrupt and indifferent to ability. He himself probably felt that he was undeservedly sinking in the company of distinguished professors.

  15. Prince Christian (8.), who was president of the Academy of Fine Arts from 1808 until his accession to the throne in 1839. Read more about the organization of the Academy of Fine Arts here.

  16. The Danish painter C.F. Høyer.

  17. In 1826, Høyer was excluded from the Academy of Fine Arts. For more about this conflict, see his biography.

  18. Prince Christian (8.), who was president of the Academy of Fine Arts from 1808 until his accession to the throne in 1839. Read more about the organization of the Academy of Fine Arts here.

  19. This characterization of Høyer agrees with Abildgaard’s in his letter dated 14.8.1806: “Høyer is a good honest person without guile, help him when you can, I am sure he will be grateful. It is a pity that he is too timid, what can be done by diligence, he will achieve, but you must instill a little courage and boldness in him, and do not let him spend too much time on the same painting.“

  20. I.e. the Danish painter Andreas Ludvig Koop.

  21. Andreas Ludvig Koop’s Moses Striking Water from the Rock, 1826, National Gallery of Denmark, inv.nr. KMS122.

  22. Cf. Fortegnelse over de ved det Kongelige Akademie for de skjönne Kunster offentligen udstillede Kunstværker, Copenhagen 1828, kat.nr. 55. See also the related article Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Exhibitions.

  23. Koop was not admitted as a member of the Academy of Fine Arts.

  24. Dvs. der blev ikke foretaget afstemning.

  25. Koop had gone to Rome in 1821 and remained there for the rest of his life.

  26. This is an understatement on Horneman’s part as the Academy of Fine Arts at this time had quite a few casts of Thorvaldsen’s works, cf. Commission for the Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen.

  27. Thorvaldsen’s Venus with the Apple, cf. A12.

  28. Dvs. omtrent, jf. Ordbog over det danske Sprog.

  29. In 1820, Horneman wrote an entry in Thorvaldsen’s album from which it appears that the two had just met. He wrote: “After I had wished so for a long time, I was at last granted the pleasure of making your acquaintance.“ However, in this letter it seems as if they knew each other when they were young at the Academy of Fine Arts “about 40 years ago”. They may have met before Horneman went abroad in 1788, cf. Horneman’s biography, but only got to know each other well during Thorvaldsen’s sojourn in Denmark “1819-20”:/kronologi/vis/896.

  30. Thorvaldsen’s Cupid Triumphant, cf. A22. In 1826, the Academy of Fine Arts exhibited plaster casts of a number of Thorvaldsen’s works, among them Venus with the Apple, cf. A12, and Cupid Triumphant, cf. A22, see the related article om kunstakademiets bestilling af gipsafstøbninger efter Thorvaldsens kunstværker.

    Precisely these two works, i.e. Venus with the Apple and Cupid Triumphant, seem to have been placed side by side after C.F. Hansen’s renovation of the so-called Antique Room in 1828, cf. a painting executed after 1828 by an unknown artist:


    Unknown: Interior with young man studying Thorvaldsen’s sculpture Venus with the apple

  31. Dvs. at det er blot en skam.

  32. Priapus, the Roman god of fertility and sexual desire. He is often depicted with an enormous penis, and here the name of the god is used as a synonym for this organ, cf. the related article Venus Priapus.

  33. Horneman here refers to the practice of covering the private parts of the statues with a fig leaf. Christian 8.’s table decorations, consisting of miniature versions of ten of Thorvaldsen’s best-known works (among them also Venus, cf. A12 and Cupid Triumphant, cf. A22, mentioned here) were also equipped with fig leaves at some point, cf. the related article Christian 8.’s Table Decoration.

  34. The deleted text may be partly deciphered:
    “after you / they had p[?]s[?][?][?] her[?].”


    It is very difficult to decipher the text because Horneman (or another reader?) has tried to make it unreadable partly by crossing it out, and partly by adding extra letters between the words originally written by Horneman. The above attempt at interpretation has been done by identifying – and then ignoring – the strokes that are deletions and the letters that must be assumed to have been added later.
    Maybe – maybe not – the de [you] in the deleted sentence refers to Thorvaldsen, as Horneman occasionally writes the polite form of address De [you] with a small d, see e.g. the line above. If that is the case, the deleted sentence might refer to some circumstance related to Thorvaldsen’s acquaintance with the said sister, who died in childbirth.
    It may also be the personal pronoun in the third person plural de.

  35. Thorvaldsen lived in his residence at the Academy of Fine Arts (Charlottenborg Palace) during his Sojourn in Denmark 1819-1820 and again after his return in 1838-1844, cf. the related article Thorvaldsen’ Residence, Studio and Museum at the Academy of Fine Arts.

  36. >In 1828-29, the Academy of Fine Arts was rebuilt, cf. N.C.L. Abraham’s letter dated “12.4.1829 and the related article Thorvaldsen’s Residence, studio and museum in the Academy of Fine Arts.

  37. Thorvaldsen’s first biographer Just Mathias Thiele.

  38. The Danish engraver Andreas Flint.

  39. I.e. the Danish medallist J.J. Holm, who died 7.1.1828.

  40. I.e. Holm’s plaster relief Samuel’s Sacrifice (Kunstakademiet, inv. nr. KS 405), which earned him the large gold medal of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1775 (and not 1779, as Horneman writes).

  41. The Danish painter Hans Hansen, who died 11.2.1828, as mentioned below.

  42. The Danish painter C.A. Lorentzen, who died 8.5.1828, and not in April as Horneman writes below.

  43. Cf. the related article Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Residences. Horneman lived in apartment Ød from 1817 until his death in 1844.

  44. I.e. the above-mentioned J.P. Møller.

  45. The Danish engraver J.F. Clemens, who, at this time, was 81-82 years old, He died in 1831.

  46. Princess Caroline, daughter of Frederik 6.. in 1829, she married Heir Presumptive Ferdinand, son of Heir Presumptive Frederik..

  47. I.e. Frederik, the later Frederik 7.

  48. The Danish architect Christian Hornbech.

  49. The Danish architect, C.F. Hansen’s pupil, Jørgen Koch.

  50. I.e. Prince Frederik’s wedding to Princess Vilhelmine 1.11.1828.

  51. The Danish architect Ole Jørgen Schmidt.

  52. I.e. the small gold medal of the Academy of Fine Arts, which Schmidt received in 1823.

  53. Schmidt won the large gold medal 14.1.1828, but the Academy could not give it to him because, as Horneman writes, he had not passed his exam. It remains unclear whether he received the medal later, cf. his biography.

  54. The Danish painter C.F. Høyer, mentioned earlier in the letter, who had long tried in vain to obtain a professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Last updated 24.09.2017