Bertel Thorvaldsen
Rom
Fonden ad usus publicos
København
Dateringen fremgår af anbefalingen.
Thorvaldsen recommends the history painter Andreas Ludvig Koop.
Med den største Fornøjelse kan jeg bevidne at jeg, efter at have lært at kjende Historiemaler hr KoopsI ArbeiderII, er bleven fuldkommen overbeviist om hans ualmindelige Talent og DygtighedIII, ligesom jeg også har havt Leilighed til at bemærke med hvor roesværdig Fliid hr Koop uophørlig arbejder fremad – og jeg anseer det for min Pligt herved at yttre mit Vidnesbyrd om at hr Koop virkelig vil præstere Noget meget Fortrinligt i Konsten og gjøre Fædrelandet og sine Velyndere sand Ære, hvis han, ved en allernaadigst Kongelig UnderstyttelseIV, kunde blive sat i stand til her, i Konstens gamle HjemV, at fortsætte sine Studier og fuldende sin Dannelse.
Rom den 8 Novembr 1822
With the greatest pleasure I can testify that having become acquainted with the works of historical painter Mr Koop I have become completely convinced of his unusual talent and skill and I have also had the opportunity to notice with what commendable diligence Mr Koop incessantly works on – and I regard it my duty here to express my firm belief that Mr Koop will certainly do something excellent in art and be a true credit to the native land as well as to his patrons, if by a most gracious royal support he could be enabled here in art’s ancient home to continue his studies and finish his education.
Rome, November 8th 1822
[Translated by Karen Husum]
This draft is written by P.O. Brøndsted, but Hermann Ernst Freund has written the finished recommendation, which is signed by Thorvaldsen himself.
Fonden ad usus publicos failed to approve the application this year and the following; Koop did not receive support until 1824 after a renewed application for a travelling scholarship. In his application of 1824, besides Thorvaldsen’s recommendation, Koop enclosed recommendations from Brøndsted, the brothers Riepenhausen and Camuccini, cf. the National Archives (ed.): Fonden ad usus publicos, vol. 1, Copenhagen 1897, p. 381-382.
P.O. Brøndsted
Last updated 17.11.2015
The Danish history painter Andreas Ludvig Koop.
It is not known which of Koop’s paintings Thorvaldsen has seen. It may have been Koop’s oil sketch for the painting Vola Appears before Thor, which was Koop’s contribution to a competition arranged in Copenhagen in 1821 in order to promote the themes of Norse mythology. Koop won second prize for his sketch, cf. H. R. Baumann: Hermann Ernst Freunds Levned ved Victor Freund, Copenhagen 1883, p. 82. The painting was executed in large format in 1823 and today is found in Akademiraadet. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, inv.nr. KS 104.
However, Koop did not live up to expectations as he was never accepted by the Academy of Fine Arts and died in poverty in Rome.
I.e. a travelling scholarship from Fonden ad usus publicos, where the present king, in this case Frederik 6, had the final say. Koop did not receive a grant until the approval of his application of 20.4.1824, see also the general comment.
I.e. Rome