Bertel Thorvaldsen
København
Københavns Magistrat
København
Dateringen fremgår af testamentet.
Kommentarerne er under udarbejdelse.
Kodicil af 25.1.1843 til Thorvaldsens gavebrev og testamente af 5.12.1838.
Gjenpart
4 Klasse No 7.
3 Rbd 48 sI
Tillægsbestemmelsen til mit under 5te December 1838 oprettede og under 8de næstefter allernaadigst konfirmerede Testamente og Gavebrev.
Efterat det for mine Arbeider og de øvrige mig tilhørende Konstgjenstande bestemte Museum er, ved de af den oprindelige Comittee for dets Oprettelse indsamlede Bidrag af over 60000 Rbd og ved min kjære Fødestads betydelige Tilskud opført paa en til mine Ønsker svarende Maade, og nu er saavidt færdigt, at jeg kan have Haab om i indeværende Aar at tage det i Brug, saa finder jeg mig foranlediget til at foreskrive og fastsætte følgende Tillæg, Forandringer og nærmere Bestemmelser af mit Testament og Gavebrev af 5te December 1838:
§1.
I § 1 litra d er bestemt, at de Statuer og Basrelieffer, som ved min Død maatte findes ufuldendte, skulde paa min Stervboes Bekostning fuldføres af /siden afdøde/ Professor Freund og Pietro Galli. Dette forandres derhen, at denne Fuldførelse af mine ufuldendte Værker skal, mod Godtgjørelse af Museumsfonden, anbetroes Professor Bissen, som jeg hermed udnævner til Med-Executor af mit Testament, og som jeg haaber vil isærdeleshed paatage sig det specielle konstneriske Tilsyn med Museet i det Hele. –
§2.
De i § 2 af mit Testament indeholdte Bestemmelser blive, forsaavidt min adopterede Datter, Kammerherreinde Poulsen, angaaer; men, med Hensyn til hendes Børn og Descendenter, er det min Villie, at der i Eet og Alt skal forholdes efter de nedenfor under § 4 anførte Forskrifter. –
§3.
I Testamentets § 3 har jeg erklæret, at, hvis der imellem mine Papirer eller i mine Gjemmer skulde findes noget Blad Papir med specielle Legater eller Dispositioner, da skulde et saadant Blad Papir ansees at udgjøre en Deel af mit Testament, naar det var udfærdiget af mig efter 5te Decbr 1838. Endskjønt jeg ikke siden den Tid har gjort nogen Disposition, saa finder jeg det dog ikke overflødigt at erklære enhver saadan Disposition, ældre end disse Tillægsbestemmelser, for aldeles ugyldig. –
§4.
I Testamentets §4 havde jeg for hver af mine 2 Dattersønner Albert og Carl, bestemt Renterne af 12000 Rbd, som skulde akkumuleres indtil deres 18de Aar. Denne Kapital, som ved Udgangen af Aaret 1840 var opvoxet til 30.100 Rbd er indsat i Kjøbenhavns Overformynderi i Januar 1841. Da Carl i 1840 døde, var det min Villie at Albert skulde erholde den hele Sum, men da han siden har faaet en Søster Augusta, som nu er noget over 1 Aar gammel, saa skal hende af Renterne af hine 30,100 Rbd tillægges en saadan Andeel, som svarer til Renten af 12000 Rbd eller aarligen 480 Rbd, og som beregnes hende tilgode fra 11te December 1842.– Dersom enten Albert eller Augusta skulde ved Døden afgaae førend deres Moder, og hun paa den Tid ikke maatte have nogen anden Livsarving, da skulde de Renter som den Afdøde har nydt, tilfalde den Overlevende, som saaledes bliver berettiget til alle de Renter, som vare bestemte for dem begge. Men saafremt Moderen, min Datter, imidlertid enten i sit nuværende eller noget andet Ægteskab, inden noget af bemeldte Børns dødelige Afgang, maatte have avlet ét eller flere Børn, da skal i første Tilfælde, den saaledes senere Fødte forlods arve den Afdødes Renter, forsaavidt disse ikke overstige dem, som den ældre Overlevende ved Dødsfaldet er i Besiddelse af / thi i saa Fald skulde de fordeles saaledes, at begge erholde en lige aarlig Rente/; og i sidste Tilfælde, naar nemlig flere Børn maatte være fødte, da skulde de ved Dødsfaldet ledigblevne Renter fordeles lige imellem dem.– Skulde saavel Albert som Augusta bortdøe førend deres Moder, da er det en Selvfølge, at de andre Livsarvinger, hun muligen paa den Tid maatte have, arve de ledigblevne Renter. Men, naar ingen andre Livsarvinger maatte være til paa den Tid, da den Længstlevende af de Børn, hun nu har, ved Døden maatte afgaae, da skulle de Renter, som tilhørte denne, tilflyde mit Museum, dog saaledes, at saafremt Kammerherreinde Poulsen senere maatte blive Moder til flere Børn, da skulle disse arve bemeldte Renter, som mellem flere Arvinger altid fordeles lige. – Den af mig i mit fornævnte § af mit Testament givne Erklæring, ifølge hvilken der foruden de i Testamentet til Albert og Carl bestemte Renter, skulde i Kjøbenhavns Overformynderi indsættes og forrentes 12000 Rbd for hvert af de andre Børn, som Kammerherreinde Poulsen maatte føde, tilbagekalder jeg hermed aldeles; hvorhos jeg fastsætter, at den i Testamentets § 2 indeholdte Bestemmelse, at Renterne af de i Nationalbanken deponerede 40,000 Rbd / egentlig 40,300 Rbd / i Statspapirer skulle, efter oftnævnte min Datters Død, tilfalde hendes Børn, bliver saaledes at forstaae, at i det Tilfælde, at hun faaer flere Børn, da skulle disse senere avlede Børn, ved deres Moders dødelige Afgang, fortrinsvis nyde Godt af disse Renter; som / naar flere Børn ere til / skulle fordeles saaledes, at alle mine Datterbørn, saavidt muligt, i det Hele erholde hver en lige stor Andeel; men, som i Tilfælde, at hun ikkun efterlader sig Eet i Live, tilfalde denne alene foruden de Renter, som ifølge Foranførte maatte tilflyde samme. – Forsaavidt mine Datterbørn maatte efterlade sig Descendenter, da er det min Villie, at de, hine ifølge ovenanførte Bestemmelser tilkommende Renter, efter deres Død skulde gaae i Arv til Descendenterne, saalænge Nogen af dem er til, i Overensstemmelse med de almindelige Arvelove, som for Kongeriget Danmark ere givne eller herefter maatte gives for Descendenternes Arv, dog saaledes, at Renterne altid uden Hensyn til Kjønnet fordeles lige mellem flere Arvinger; og skal derfor Alt, hvad i Testamentet er bestemt angaaende Arvefølgen, forsaavidt det ikke stemmer hermed, være tilbagekaldt. – De Kapitaler, hvoraf Renterne, som ovenmeldt, ere tillagte deels min adopterede Datter, Kammerherreinde Poulsen, deels hendes Børn og Descendenter, skulle, naar Alle disse ere bortdøde, tilfalde mit Museum, til hvis Fordeel Renterne blive at anvende. – De i Testamentets 4de § indeholte Bestemmelser angaaende Raadigheden over de Renter, som i Overensstemmelse med denne Tillægspost tilfalde mine Datterbørn og deres Descendenter, blive i øvrigt at tage tilfølge. –
§5.
Den 5te § i mit Testament angaaende de af mine Efterladenskaber, over hvilke jeg ingen særdeles Bestemmelse havde fastsat, ophæves og tilbagekaldes hermed aldeles, forsaavidt dens Forskrifter ikke her gjentages. – Derimod fastsætter jeg, at Alt, hvad jeg efter min Død efterlader mig, skal tilfalde mit Museum med Undtagelse af, hvad jeg til en Sum af 4000 Rbd inden min Død maatte finde for godt, in eventum mortis at disponere over. – Alle Kunstsagerne skulle optages i Museet og alt det Øvrige skal gjøres i Penge og henlægges til Museets Fond, hvis Renter skulle anvendes til Bestillinger til Fordeel for Danske Konstnere i det Øiemed at befordre de skjønne Konster i Danmark og at berige mit Museum med de saaledes af dem udførte Arbeider; hvorhos jeg indskjærper og udtrykkelig bestemmer, at Kapitalerne stedse skulle være uafhændelige, og at de af ingensomhelst Aarsag eller under intet Paaskud, skulle nogensinde kunne formindskes eller forbruges. –
§6.
Begyndelsen i den forrige § omtalte Fond er gjort med den Kapital af omtrent 25,000 Rbd, som jeg allerede har skjænket til Museet og afleveret til Testaments-Executorerne, og hvis Renter maa af disse anvendes til Anskaffelsen af hvad der hører til Konstsagernes hensigtsmæssige Opstilling og til Museets indvendige Forskjønnelse. –
§7.
Som Følge af de i de tvende næstforegaaende §§ indeholdte Bestemmelser, vil den umiddelbare og udelukkende Bestyrelse af Museet, tilkomme og paaligge meerbemeldte Executorer, som jeg herved ydermere bemyndiger til at anvende de til deres Disposition satte Midler for at vedligeholde og forøge Museets Konstsager og at forskjønne dets Indre, saa at det altsaa kan blive et hæderligt Monument for Dansk Konst og Danske Konstneres Præstationer.
§8.
Over alle til Museet hørende Konstsager af hvad Navn nævnes kan, skal et nøiagtigt Katalog forfattes og ved Trykken bekjendtgøres. –
§9.
Ligesom Alt, hvad der hører til Vedligeholdelse og Forøgelse af Museet / כ : Konstværkerne / skal, som meldt, udføres ved de Pengemidler, som af mig dertil ere skjænkede, saaledes haaber jeg, at Kommunalbestyrelsen, som saa velvilligen har sørget for, at den af Architecten Bindesbøll udkastede smukke Plan er ved ham bleven heldigen udført, vil ogsaa for Fremtiden sørge for, at denne kostbare Bygning paa Kommunens Bekostning stedse forsvarligt vedligeholdes, og paalideligt Tilsyn stedse dermed føres, saa at den altid kan blive et sikkert og et anstændigt Opbevaringssted for de kostbare Konstsager, jeg har skjænket Staden Kjøbenhavn.
§10.
Executores testamenti ere for nærværende Tid, De Herrer Conferentsraad Collin, Justitsraad Thiele, Professorerne Clausen, Schouw og Bissen, samt et Medlem af Kjøbenhavns Magistrat. De bemyndiges til at udnævne Eftermænd i de Fratrædendes Sted, hvilken Bemyndigelse skal tilkomme deres eventuelle Eftermænd. Ligesom de nuværende Executorer af Venskab for mig og af Kjærlighed til Konsten, have paataget sig dette Arbeide uden noget Vederlag, saaledes antager jeg ogsaa, at deres Eftermænd ville gjøre det. – Naar Nogen af de Nuværende fratræder indskrænkes deres Tal til 5; og skal det ved Afgang og ved en ny Executors Udnævnelse være en Regel, at der imellem Executorerne altid ere tvende Professorer af Akademiet for de skjønne Konster, 1 Medlem af Kjøbenhavns Magistrat, og idetmindste 1 Lovkyndig, som vælges enten mellem de Tilforordnede i Høiesteret eller i Lands- Over- samt Hof- og Stadsretten. – Forsædet imellem dem har bestandigt den, som længst har været i denne Function; i Tilfælde af Meningsforskjellighed skeer Afgjørelsen ved de fleste Stemmer. –
Kiøbenhavn den 25de Januar 1843.
Albert Thorvaldsen.
Copy
4Class No 7
3 Rbd 48 s
The codicil to my will and deed of gift drawn up on December 5th 1838 and most graciously granted probate on the subsequent 8th.
As the museum intended for my works and the other objects of art belonging to me is now almost finished so that I can hope to start using it this year, because of the collected contributions by the original committee for its foundation and by the considerable contributions from my dear native town it has been built according to my wishes, I feel called upon to prescribe and stipulate the following codicils, changes and further decisions to my will and deed of gift of December 5th 1838.
§1.
In §1 letter d it is stipulated that the statues and bas-reliefs which may be unfinished at my death should be finished at expenses from my estate by /the since then deceased/ professor Freund and Pietro Galli. This is to be changed so that the finishing of my unfinished works is entrusted to professor Bissen for a consideration from the foundation of the museum; I hereby appoint him co-executor under my will and I hope he will assume the special artistic supervision of the museum in all. –
§2.
The stipulations in §2 of my will remain valid as regards my adopted daughter Mrs Poulsen wife of chamberlain; whereas regarding her children and descendants it is my will there must entirely be acted according to the stipulations below under §4.
§3.
In §3 of the will I have declared that if any sheet of paper with special grants or dispositions should be found among my papers or my things such a piece of paper should be considered to be part of my will, if it had been made out by me after December 5th 1838. Even though I have made no dispositions since then I do not find it unnecessary to declare that any disposition like that, older than this codicil, is quite invalid.
§4.
In §4 of my will I had for my daughter’s 2 sons Albert and Carl directed the interest of 12,000 Rbd [rix-dollar] which were to accumulate until they were 18 years old. This capital which at the end of the year 1840 had increased to 30,100 Rbd has been deposited in the public trustee’s office in Copenhagen in January 1841. When Carl died in 1840 I wanted Albert to receive the whole sum, but as he since then has had a sister, Augusta who is now well over a year old she shall be entitled to interest of the said 30,100 Rbd in a proportion corresponding to the interest of 12,000 Rbd or annually 480 Rbd and which shall be calculated for her benefit from December 11th 1842.
In case either Albert or Augusta should die before their mother and if she at that time has no other heir of the body then the interests which the deceased has received go to the survivor who will thus be entitled to all the interests which had been directed for both of them. But if the mother, my daughter, in her present or in another marriage should have had one or more children before the decease of any of her said children, then in the first case the later born shall in advance inherit the interests of the deceased if they are not higher than the ones which the other survivor already owns at the death / for in that case they should be shared so that both receive an equal annual interest / and in the latter case, when more children have been born, then the interests available at the death should be shared equally among them. – If both Albert and Augusta should die before their mother it is a matter of course that other heirs of the body she might possibly have at that time, will inherit the interests available. But when no other heirs of the body are alive at the time when the survivor of the children she has now should die, then the interests which belonged to this person should go to my museum, in a way so that if Mrs Paulsen the wife of the chamberlain might later become a mother of more children, then these should inherit the said interests, which must always be shared equally between more heirs. – The statement given by me in the said § of my will according to which there besides the interests stipulated in the will to Albert and Carl was to be placed in the public trustee’s office in Copenhagen with interests to be paid 12,000 Rbd for each of the other children Mrs Paulsen wife of the chamberlain might give birth to, I hereby retract completely; in connection with which I stipulate that the decision in §2 of the will that the interests of the placed 40,000 Rbd in the National Bank / Actually 40,300 Rbd / in Government bonds after the death of the oft-mentioned should go to her children is to be understood that in case she has more children, then these later procreated children at their mother’s death should especially benefit from these interests; which / where there are more children / should be shared so that all my daughter’s children, as far as possible, all in all each gets an equal part; but which in case she only leaves one child alive will go to this one alone besides the interests, which accordin to the above written might go to the same one. – if my daughter’s children may leave descendants, it is my will that the accumulated interests according to the abovementioned stipulations, after their death should descend to the descendants as long as any of them is alive, in accordance with the general rules of succession, which have been passed for the kingdom of Denmark or which may be passed in future for the inheritance of descendants, however in a way so that the interests aleays regardless of sex are shared equally between heirs; and that is why all that has been stipulated in the will regarding the order of succession shall be cancelled if it does not agree with this. – The capitals on which the interests as mentioned above have been granted partly my adopted daughter, the wife of Poulsen, the chamberlain, partly her children and descendants should when all these have died go to my museum, for the benefit of which the interests must be used. – The stipulation contained in the 4th § of the will regarding the command of the interests, which in accordance with this codicil go to my daughter’s children and their descendants must besides be acted on. –
§5.
The 5th § in my will regarding that of my estate on which I had stipulated no special decision is hereby annulled and completely retracted, provided that its directions are not repeated here. – Against it I stipulate that everything which I leave after my death shall go to my museum except for a sum of 4,000 Rbd of which before my death I may please in eventum mortis to have the disposal. – All the objects of art should be included in the museum and all the other things must be turned into cash and be placed in the fund of the museum, the interests of which should be used on commissions to benefit Danish artists with the purpose of promoting the fine arts in Denmark and enriching my museum with the works executed in this way; in addition to which I enjoin and specifically stipulate that the capitals should for ever be inalienable and that for no reason and not on any account should it be possible to reduce them or spend them. –
§6.
The start of the said fund in the last § has been made with the capital of about 25,000 Rbd which I have already donated to the museum and given to the executors under my will and the interests of the sum may by these be used for the purchase of what is necessary for the appropriate arrangements of the objects of art and for the interior embellishment of the museum.
§7.
As a consequence of the included stipulations in the two preceding §§, the immediate and exclusive direction of the museum will be due to and lie with the abovementioned executors, whom I hereby further authorize to use the means at their disposal to maintain and increase the museum’s objects of art and to embellish its interior, so that it can be a decent monument for Danish art and the works of Danish artists.
§8.
A precise catalogue of all the objects of art belonging to the museum, which it is possible to mention by name, is to be written and be published in print.
§9.
Just as everything, which is part of maintenance and augmentation of the museum / the works of art / as said must be carried out from the means, which have been donated by me for this, I hope that the local council, which so kindly has seen to the beautiful plan suggested by the architect Bindelbøll has been carried out successfully, I hope that this council also in future will always see to the proper keeping up of this expensive building at the council’s expense, and so that it is always reliably supervised, so that it may always be a safe and decent place where the precious works of art are kept, which I have donated to the City of Copenhagen.
§10.
Executores testament are at present, Messrs. Collin, Konferentsråd, the Counsellor Thiele, the professors Clausen, Schouw and Bissen, as well as a member of the corporation of Copenhagen. They are authorized to appoint successors to resigning persons’ place; this authorization is valid for their potential successors. Just as the present executors have accepted this work without any return, because of affection for me and love of art, I also expect that their successors will do so. – When any of the present members resign, the number will be reduced to 5; and it must be a rule that by resignation and by the appointment of another executor there must always among the executors be two professors from the Academy of Fine Arts, 1 member of the corporation of Copenhagen and at least 1 person learned in law, who is to be chosen either among the legal advisers in the Supreme Court or in the High Court and the High Court of Justice. The chairman among them is always the one who has been there for the longest time; in case of difference of opinion the matter is decided by majority of vote.
Copenhagen, January 25th 1843.
Albert Thorvaldsen.
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Kodicil af 25.1.1843 til Thorvaldsens gavebrev og testamente af 5.12.1838.
Sidst opdateret 14.09.2016
3 rigsbankdaler 48 skilling.