Bertel Thorvaldsen
Rom
C.F. Hansen
København
Ingen udskrift.
Dateringen fremgår ikke af brevudkastet, men af et andet senere udkast til samme brev.
One of three draft letters, in Thorvaldsen’s own hand, of a fourth draft letter dated 7.2.1827 written by a copyist.
Tak gode Hr Conferenzraad for Der[e]s venskabelige Skrivelse af 24 Novembre f a som jeg har modtaget med stor fornøelse, da jeg deraf seer De lever frisk og vel som altiid vil glæde mig at høre
At det har behaget H.M. at sende til for Aaret en Fregat til Livorno for der at inskibe de af mig forfærdigede Arbeider, skal jeg med fornøelse benytte saa godt som mulig. Til Frue Kirkes bestemte Figure ere færdige til afsendelse herfra nemlig Christus og de 12 Apostler hvoraf jeg har to Afstøbninge saa det ene bliver her for dersom telfældeI der skulde skee nogen ulykke paa Rejsen at de derfor ikke ere tabte. Jeg har Til Frontespidsen har jeg ogsaa Figurene færdige, forestillende Iohannes som præger i Ørkken, disse 4 var min Mening, at skulde burdes Støbes i Bronze først fordi da det er den eenest Materie som kan udholde at staae i fri luft i vor Clima for det at at andre og som i Bronz kan støbes saa tyndt og ved stenger fra Rykken af Figurene ind BefestigesII i Muren saa de næsten kunde bære sig selv uden [at] give nogen tønke [tyngde] paa Gesimssen: og giøres for en Pris af 2000 Frank hver Figur, som nesten vilde koste lige saa meget af brendt Leer, det er hvad mann har forvexlet med Apostlerne som aldri har været min Mening at skulde giøres af Bronz Metal
De frire Evangelisster i Portalet, for ikke at repetere Iohanes og Matæus som tillige ere Apostler ti mener jeg det var bedre at giøre to Sibiller og to Proffeder som forud har spaade Christus ankommelse. De er saa God at lade mig vide Deres mening deraaver for [før] jeg begynder derpaa. Til Christiansborg Slot er ikke andet færdig i marmor til at gaae herfra en som de tvende Cariatider til ThornIII Gemakket, Frisen og de øvrige arbejder arbeides i marmor med alle Krefter
Det er for mig en usigele Glæde at smigrende dersom mine arbeider kunde paa nogen maade bidrage til Siir for Deres Skiøne og smagfulde Bygninger
Jeg beder at helse Deres Elskværdige Famiglie og bland vores felles venner alle som De seer fra Deres Ganske hengivne Ven
[i margen:]
Jeg beder at hilse Pe vor fel ikke at forsømme denne gode Leilighed at sende mig de to Bassorilievi som jeg forfærdig sest [sidst] i mit ophol i Kiøbenhanv[.] Hvor felles Ven Hr P. Malling som helses
[på næste side:]
PS jeg beder om de to[,] med denne skione Leilighed[,] med Freg[at]en bede ikke at forsomme denne skone leilighed at sende meg De to Bassorilievi som jeg forfærdig[ede] stist jeg var i Kiøbenhavn, og en Kasse med Bøger som blev staaende i mine værelser paa Charlo Ko[n]st Academiet. Vor felles Ven Hr. P. Malling vel nok være saa god at besorge det inskebbet paa Fregaten[.] Lev vel Lykke[lig] og Vel
P.S. naar Fregaten gaaer fra Kiøbenhavn, beder jeg ikke at forsømme denne Skiønne Lelighed at skibbe mig de to Bassorilievi som jeg forfærdiget sist da jeg var der, og en Kasse med Bøger som blev staaende paa i mine Værelser paa Chialottenborg. Vor felles Ven Hr P Malling vel nok være saa god at besørge dem det inskebbet
Thank you, kind Konferenceråd, for your friendly favour of November 24th last year, which I have received with great pleasure, as I see from it that you ere well and hearty, which it will always please me to hear.
With great pleasure I shall make as good use as possible of the fact that it has pleased H.M. in spring to send a frigat to Leghorn there to take on board the works made by me. Of the figures for the Church of Our Lady the following are ready to be sent off from here, Christ and the 12 Apostles of which I have two casts so that one will remain here in case some accident might happen on the voyage so that they are not lost. I have I have also finished the figures for the pediment, presenting John preaching in the desert, these M in my opinion should ought to be cast in bronze firstly because as it is the only substance which can stand being in open air in our climate, secondly and which in bronze may be cast so thin and by poles from the back of the figures fastened in the wall so that they could almost carry themselves without weighing on the cornice; and can be made at a price of 2,000 franc for each figure, which would cost almost as much in burnt clay, this is what has been confused with the Apostles which it has never been my intention to make of bronze metal
The four evangelists in the portal, not to repeat John and Matthew who are also apostles then I think it would be better to make two sibyls and two prophets who in advance have prophesied the arrival of Christ. Will you be as kind as to let me know your opinion about this before I begin work. For Christiansborg Palace, nothing has been finished in marble to leave from here but the two Caryatids for the throne room, the frieze and the other works are prepared in marble with a will.
It is to me an inexpressibly joy flattering if my works in any way might contribute to ornamentation of your beautiful and tasteful buildings
I beg you to give my regards to your kind family and all you see of our mutual friends, your very faithful friend
[in the margin:]
I ask you to give my regards to Pe our mu j [beg you] not to miss this perfect opportunity to send me the two bas-reliefs which I made last at my stay in Copenhagen. Our mutual friend Mr P. Malling whom I send my regards
[on the next page:]
P.S. I ask that the two, at this perfect opportunity, with the frigat I ask [you] not to miss this perfect opportunity to send me the two bas-reliefs which I made last time I was in Copenhagen and a box with books which remained in my rooms at Charlo the Royal Academy fo Fine Arts. Our mutual friend Mr P. Malling will certainly be as kind as to attend to the shipment at the frigat. Live safely,
P.S. When the frigate leaves Copenhagen, I beg you not to miss this perfect opportunity to ship for me the two bas-reliefs which I made when I last was there, and a box with books which remained on in my rooms at Charlottenborg. Our mutual friend Mr P Malling will certainly be as kind as to attend to the shipment
[Translated by Karen Husum]
There exist three more drafts of the same draft letter: One is written and corrected by a copyist, and therefore it probably represents a later stage in the writing process; the other is even more sketchy than the present draft, while a third contains only the beginning of the letter. Both probably represent an earlier stage in the writing of the letter.
See the related articles Thorvaldsen’s Letter Writing Process and Thorvaldsen’s Spoken and Written Language.
See also the related article Transportation of Thorvaldsen’s Artworks to Copenhagen 1828 for a detailed list of the works which were included in the shipment and other facts concerning the transportation.
|
|
Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A56 |
|
|
Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A55 |
|
|
Kristus, Antagelig november 1821 - Senest januar 1822, inv.nr. A82 |
|
|
Peter, Antagelig 19. marts 1821 - juni 1821, inv.nr. A86 |
|
|
Matthæus, Tidligst 19. marts 1821 - Ultimo 1821, inv.nr. A87 |
|
|
Johannes, Primo 1824 - Senest 1827, inv.nr. A89 |
|
|
Jakob den Yngre, 1823 - Senest 1827, inv.nr. A91 |
|
|
Philip, 1823 - Senest 1827, inv.nr. A93 |
|
|
Thomas, Tidligst 19. marts 1821 - Ultimo 1821, inv.nr. A96 |
|
|
Jakob den Ældre, Tidligst 19. marts 1821 - Ultimo 1821, inv.nr. A98 |
|
|
Bartholomæus, 2. august 1823 - 21. december 1823, inv.nr. A99 |
|
|
Simon Zelotes, 1823 - Senest 1827, inv.nr. A101 |
|
|
Paulus, Antagelig 19. marts 1821 - juni 1821, inv.nr. A103 |
|
|
Andreas, 1. marts 1842, inv.nr. A108 |
|
|
Judas Thaddæus, Ca. 28. marts 1842 - 10. april 1842, inv.nr. A105 |
|
|
Alexander den Stores indtog i Babylon, marts 1812 - juni 1812, inv.nr. A503 |
Last updated 21.11.2016
Ordet tilfælde er føjet til i margin, og falder derfor lidt ud af sammenhængen.
Ordet befæstiges er føjet til i margin og er derfor anbragt efter ordet ind, men skulle egentlig have være indsat før, så sætningen ville have lydt: …ved stenger fra Rykken af Figurene Befestiges ind i Muren….
Thorvaldsen mener naturligvis tron-gemakket. Ombytningen af o og r er en såkaldt reversalfejl, som er karakteristisk for ordblinde. Se mere herom i referenceartiklen Thorvaldsens tale- og skriftsprog.
Se også ombytningen af n og v i Kiøbenhavn nedenfor.