25.5.1820

Sender

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Sender’s Location

København

Recipient

Slotsbygningskommissionen

Recipient’s Location

København

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift, da der er tale om Thorvaldsens kopi af brevet.
Tilskrift: Til / Commissionen for / Slottets Opbyggelse

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår af brevet.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen’s copy of the letter dated 25.5.1820, see the comments there.

Document

Copie


Commissionen har behaget under 27 Dec. f.A. at tilskrive mig og tilkiendegive mig dens Bestemmelse at overdrage mig Udførelsen af en Christus Figur i Marmor til Alteret i Slotskirken ligesom og 2de Chariatider og Frisen: Alexanders Indtog i Babylon i Marmor udføres. –

Iøvrigt yttrer Commissionen Attraae til at erholde Gibsafstøbninger af mine ældre Arbeider – Kunstacademiet lader dem for Øieblikket afforme og modtager Afstøbninger tilligemed Formerne – Saaledes kan da fra Academiet i Fremtiden Afstøbninger erholdes til Slottets Decoration –

Commissionens Tilbud at indrømme Plads til at optage Academiets Samling i Slottet da Academiet ikke selv har Plads dertil, er et Bevis paa Dens Redebonhed til at komme Academiet til Hielp – Ønskeligere maatte det dog sikkert være om Academiet gaves Leilighed til Udvidelse af sit eget Locale for at sætte Antiksalen i Forbindelse med Samlingen der saaledes kunde tiene Academiets Elever til Veiledning – Commissionens Medvirkning til dette Øiemed naar Leilighed gives smigrer jeg mig med i Haab om et heldigt Udfald –

Da Commissionen har biefaldet mit Forslag at anvende Compositionen for Raad og Domhusets Fronton til Slottets Fronton skal jeg ifølge Dens Begiering afgive en anden Composition for Domhuset ligesom og besørge de 2de. Lovgiveres Solons og Lycurgs Statuer –

Den særdeles Interesse disse Bygninger vække hos mig til at biedrage efter Evne til deres Forskiønnelse og saavidt mueligt give mit Arbeide Varighed hvor det er udsat for Veirligets Paavirkning har bestemt mig til ved min Ankomst til Rom at giøre Forsøg med at lade Modeller i Leer brænde – Naar dette lykkes som jeg formoder, vil en betydelig Bekostning vindes imod Brugen af Steen, og Anvendelsen af Plastikken som nøie staar i Forbindelse med Architecturen derved lettes.

Comissionens Hensigt at fremme mit Ønske ved at overdrage Freund noget Arbeide der kunde bære hans Navn er mig særdeles kiær da han derved erstattes Savnet i Udførelsen af Apostlerne til Frue Kirke som var ham overdraget men senere tillagt mig for at give disse fuldkommen Overenstemmelse i Stilen med Christus Figuren for Høialtret –

Hvad angaar Commissionens Begiering at underrettes om hvad Forskud maatte være nødvendigt for at iværksætte de mig overdragne Arbeider, og hvad Omkostning med Reisen maatte være forbunden, da giver jeg mig den Frihed i Henhold til Commissionens Skrivelse af 20 July 1818 at andrage paa 1ste Termins Udbetaling for Frisen til Slottet som er under Arbeide og Chariatiderne som næsten er færdige – Summa – 5000 Spec. –
Dernæst i Henhold til Commissionens Skrivelse af 16 Febr. 1816 ang. Reisen m.m.

Reiseomkostning hertil –
9 Maaneders Ophold –
Reiseomkostninger tilbage –
700 Sp.
900
700
 
} 2300 Spec

De 5000 Spec. ombedes anviist paa Schultheis Banquier i Rom hvorimod jeg attraaer at hæve her de 2300 Spec. – og da jeg staaer i Begreb med at afreise skulde jeg ærbødigst udbede mig Sagen snarest mueligt berigtiget –

I Henseende til de øvrige Arbeider som ere mig overdragne da vil jeg ikke kunne angive nogen fast Sum til Udbetaling i Forskud, men henstiller til Commissionen det Forslag at aabne mig en Kredit hos bemeldte Schulteis i Rom paa 4 a 5.000 Spec. til efterhaanden at kunde hæves for at bestride de Udgivter som maatte være forbundne med Anskaffelse af Materiale og med at lønne flere unge Kunstnere som jeg under min Veiledning agter at bruge til disse Arbeider – hvorved en hensigtsmæssig Oeconomie kan opnaaes da disse unge Mænd mere see paa Leilighed til at lære end til at have fuld Løn for Arbeidet –

Det Indtryk de omtalte Pragtbygninger have efterladt hos mig vil være mig en Spore til at sørge for ufortøvet ved min Ankomst til Rom at iværksætte og snarest fremme det mig betroede Arbeide til deres Forskiønnelse med den Omhyggelighed fra Konstens Side og den Omsorg i oeconomisk Hensyn jeg anseer mig at skylde mit Fædreland –

Kiøbenhavn 25 May 1820 –

Thorwaldsen

Oversættelse af dokument

Copy


It has pleased the Commission to write to me bearing the date of December 27th last year to inform me of its decision to assign to me the execution of a figure of Christ in marble for the altar in the chapel of the Palace as well as the two Caryatids and the Frieze: Alexander the Great’s Entry into Babylon: to be executed in marble

Besides, the Commission expresses desire to obtain plaster casts of my earlier works – At the moment the Academy of Fine Arts is having casts taken of them and receive casts as well as the moulds – In this way it will be possible in future to obtain casts from the Academy of Fine Arts for the decoration of the Palace –

The offer of the Commission to give room for admitting the collection of the Academy of Fine Arts into the Palace as the Academy of Fine Arts itself has no room for it is a proof of their readiness to come to the assistance of the Academy of Fine Arts – It might, however, be more desirable if the Academy of Fine Arts were given a chance for extension of its own premises to connect the hall of antiques to the Collection which thus might serve the pupils of the Academy of Fine Arts for instructions – In the hope of its success I indulge in the participation of the Commission for this purpose as occasion arises –

As the Commission has approved of my proposal to use the composition for the fronton of the Råd- og Domhuset for the fronton of the Palace I shall according to its request surrender another composition for Domhuset as well as make the two legislators’ Solon’s and Lycurgus’ statues –

The extreme interest these buildings awaken in me to contribute to the best of my ability to their embellishment and as far as possible to give my work duration where it is exposed to the influence of the weather has made me decide at my arrival in Rome to make experiments with burning models in clay – when I succeed in this, as I presume, a considerable expenditure will be gained against the use of stone, and the application of the plastic art which is closely connected to the architecture will be lightened by this.

The Commission’s intention to further my wish by assigning to Freund some work which might bear his name is very dear to me as in this way he will be compensated for the loss of the execution of the apostles for the Church of Our Lady which had been assigned to him but now later have been assigned to me to give them perfect harmony in style with the figure of Christ for the high altar –

As regards the Commission’s request to be informed about the advance necessary to initiate the works transferred to me and what costs might be connected with the journey I take the liberty referring to the Commission’s favour of July 20th 1818 to apply for the payment of the first instalment for the Frieze for the Palace which is being worked at and the Caryatids which are almost finished – Sum – 5000 Spec. –
Next, referring to the Commission’s favour of February 16th 1816 concerning the journey etc.

Travelling expenses to here –
9 months’ sojourn –
Travelling expenses return –
700 Sp.
900
700
 
} 2300 Spec

I beg to have the 5000 Spec. Assigned for Schultheis Banker in Rome, whereas I desire to have the 2300 Spec. Here, and as I am on the point of leaving I should most humbly request the matter to be settled as soon as possible –

As regards the other works which have been assigned to me I shan’t be able to state a fixed sum for payment in advance, but suggest the proposal to the Commission to open a credit for me at the above mentioned Schultheis in Rome of 4. To 5.000 Spec. To be drawn little by little to defray the expenses which might be connected to the purchase of material and to pay various young artists whom I intend to use under my guidance for these works – by which an appropriate economy may be obtained as these young men more regard it as an occasion to learn, than to receive full pay for their work –

The impression the mentioned magnificent buildings have left with me will act as a spur on me immediately at my arrival in Rome to initiate and as soon as possible to further the works assigned to me for their embellishment with the care from art and economically, which I consider to owe my native land –

Copenhagen, May 25th 1820 –

Thorwaldsen.


[Translated by Karen Husum]

Document Type

Færdigt dokument af koncipist

Amanuensis

Peder Malling

Archival Reference

m28A II, nr. 9

Thiele

Omtalt hos Thiele III, p. 290 (her fejlagtigt dateret 25.5.1826).

Subjects

Persons

Works

A82 Kristus, Antagelig november 1821 - Senest januar 1822, inv.nr. A82
A55 Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A55
A56 Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A56
A503 Alexander den Stores indtog i Babylon, marts 1812 - juni 1812, inv.nr. A503
A316 Jupiter, Minerva og Nemesis, Antagelig 1822, inv.nr. A316
A554 Salomons dom, Tidligst september 1835 - Senest november 1835, inv.nr. A554

Last updated 19.12.2016