Bertel Thorvaldsen
København
Comitteen for Oprettelsen af Thorvaldsens Museum
København
Tilskrift: Til Comiteen for Opførelsen af det Thorvaldsenske Museum!
Dateringen fremgår af brevet.
Kommentarerne til dette brev er under udarbejdelse.
Det har været mig særdeles kiært at erfare, at adskillige af mine Landsmænd, allerede siden nogle Aar, ere traadte i Forening, for at træffe Foranstaltning til, at der her i Staden maatte kunne opføres en Bygning til Opbevaring af de Kunstgienstande, som jeg agter at efterlade mit Fødeland.
Jeg behøver ikke at tilføie, at jeg med levende Interesse seer denne Sags heldige Fremgang imøde, da det er noksom bekiendt, at jeg i de sidstafvigte Aar jevnligen har hidsendt saavel endeel af mine egne Arbeider, som ogsaa forskiellige andre Kunstsager i den Hensigt, at disse i Tiden skulle tilhøre mit vordende Museum.
Men, skiøndt det Meste af dette Museums Bestanddele endnu henstaaer i mine Ateliers i Rom og først Aar efter andet vil blive hidsendt, naar Leiligheder tilbyde sig, saa er det dog for nærværende Tid allerede af Vigtighed, at de hidsendte Sager snarest muligt samles og opbevares i et passende, interimistisk Locale, hvilket jeg haaber vil uden Vanskelighed kunne blive anviist af vedkommende Autoritet, som jeg har haft den Glæde at erfare, at adskillige Værelser paa Christiansborg=Slot allerede tidligere ere blevne afbenyttede.
Mit Ønske til den nuværende Comitee for Museets Opførelse er derfor under nærværende Omstændigheder, at den, ved Siden af dens tidligere Virksomhed, ville overtage et midlertidigt Tilsyn med Opbevarelsen af de allerede hidsendte Gienstande, saaledes at den, næstefter at udvirke det Fornødne ihenseende til Localet, ville drage Omsorg for, at Museets herværende Eiendele, for nærværende Tid bestaaende af Statuer og Basrelieffer i Marmor og i Gips, antike Vaser, Bronzer, Malerier, Pragtværker, løse Kobbere, Haandtegninger og Bøger, paa en passende Maade maatte blive opstillede og en nøiagtig Fortegnelse over alt det Afleverede forfattet, for at samtlige Gienstande i [sin] Tid maatte overleveres til Museet i god Behold.
Da den ærede Comitee har ladet mig indbyde til at deeltage i de fremtidige Møder, under mit Ophold her, vil jeg nærmere finde Leilighed, saavel til at give de fornødne Meddelelser og Oplysninger angaaende dette Anliggende, som ogsaa til at yttre min Mening angaaende den Plans Iværksættelse, som hos mine Landsmænd har mødt en saa varm Deeltagelse. –
ærbødigst
| Charlottenborg d 25 October 1838 |
Thorvaldsen |
It has pleased me to learn that several of my compatriots got together already some years ago to take steps to erect a building in this city to keep the objects of art which I intend to leave to my native land.
It is needless to add that I anticipate the success of this matter with vivid interest, as it is well known that during recent years I have often sent here some of my own works as well as various other objects of art intending that these eventually should belong to my future museum.
But even though most of this museum’s elements are still in my studios in Rome and will only be sent here some time as occasion serves, it is already at present important that the things sent hither are collected as soon as possible and kept in a suitable temporal room. I hope it will be assigned by the proper authority without difficulty, as I have had the pleasure to learn that several rooms at Christiansborg Palace have already been used previously.
My request to the present Committeee for the Foundation of Thorvaldsen’s Museum is therefore in the present circumstances that, apart from its earlier undertakings, it will accept a temporary supervision of the keeping of the things already sent hither, so that next to obtaining what is necessary as regards the room, it will take care that the present belongings of the museum, for the time being consisting of statues and bas-reliefs in marble and in plaster, antique vases, bronzes, paintings, magnificent works, loose copperplate engravings, drawings, and books will be arranged, and a precise list made of all that has been delivered, so that all the objects eventually may be safely handed over to the museum.
As the honourable committee has invited me to participate in the future meetings during my stay here I shall get opportunity to give the necessary information regarding this matter as well as give my opinion regarding the effectuation of the plan, which has met with such a warm participation. –
Respectfully,
| Charlottenborg, October 25th 1838 |
Thorvaldsen |
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Sidst opdateret 17.05.2016