C.W. Eckersberg
Rom
J.F. Clemens
København
Dateringen fremgår ikke af udkastet, men af Bramsen og Ragn Jensen, op. cit.
Kommentarerne til dette dokument er under udarbejdelse.
Deres tvende sidste Breve, det ene af 10 May og det andet af 4 Juni med Vexelen har jeg rigtig imodtaget, dette sidste den 1 .Juli, hvorfor jeg ret Hjerteligen takker Dem. Deres sidste fra forige Aar af 9 Octob. med Efterretning fra Möller og Bagge, har jeg imodtaget og besvaret under 13. Nov. f.A.I paa same Tid skrev jeg ogsaa til KonstakademietII, et Svar, paa et meget behageligt Brev, hvori dette ytrede mig bedste Bifald, over mine hiemsendte Arbeider fra Paris, men som jeg hører, er ingen af dem ankomen, som giør mig ondt. Alle vi herværende danske haver i lang Tid levet meeget besørget, førend Tingene endeligen toge den bestemtere Vending, da vi hverken havde Breve, eller nogen Efterretning fra hvort kjære Fædreneland og vi havde endnu været i en slemere Forlegenhed i Mangel af Penger, naar ikke vores gode Thorvaldsen, havde hjulpet os, nu har vi da igien faaet Breve, og vi har ogsaa den Glæde igien ofte at læse noget i Aviserne, om hvort Dannemark som glæder os meeget. Den Norske Sag tales der meeget om -
For begge Deres Breve takker jeg Dem meeget, det var mig kjært i det første at see mine Finanzers Tilstand, hvorledes de forholder sig, jeg gruer ved uhyre Gjæld som altid tiltager, og ved aldeles ikke hvorledes den skal blive af betalt, af den Aarsag ønsker jeg ofte at min Reises Tid var udløbet, omendskjøndt Enden nærmer sig med stærke Skridt og det øvrige maae da føresten saa staae til jeg engang komer hjem. Jeg takker Dem øg den gode Herr G.C. Clasen for det sidste, og Vexelen han har besørget mig tilstillet, paa 554 Francs 65 Cent. denne Sum vilde i lige forhold have Giældt 103 Scudi Romani 66 Bajocco, men formedelst en ufordelagtig Cours paa Paris, fik jeg 100 Scudi 76 Bajok, Hr. Baron von Brown en gamel Normand som i mangfoldige Aar har opholdt sig her, og som godt forstaaer sig paa slige Ting, har afsadt mig den. Indtil halvdeelen af sidste afvigte Juni havde den gode Hr. Thorvaldsen forstrakt mig med 100 Scudi men da denne frygtede selv at kome i forlegenhed, henvendte jeg mig til Hr. Baron v. Schubart som ogsaa strax beviiste mig den bevaagenhed at give mig en Credit paa 100 Scudi paa mit Stipendium, som jeg imodtog kort forend Deres sidste Brevs Ankomst. Jeg har Haab om at han ikke vil presere saameget, om det endnu skulde vare længe, førend Akademiet betaler, denne Ædle reiser om kort Tid til Dannemark, og da vil de maaske have lejlighed at tale med ham, jeg er nu Glad at jeg kan afbetale noget af min Gjeld, og igien begynde at Arbejde paa nogle begyndte Ting. Til Vores alles største Glæde hører jeg ogsaa at vores Cours skal have forbedret sig betydelig jeg kan meeget vel forestille mig hvor meeget De maae have lidt i Danemark i denne ulyksalige Tid Gud give at dette igien var endt til det bedste, og at man igien kunde oyne bedre Tider.
Det har glædet mig usigelig, at have faaet en Leilighed til at giøre endnu et andet stort Malerie, Altertavlen til Grev Wedel JarlsbergIII. Det er en Ting som man fordeelagtigen kan giøre her i Rom, de andre 2 Stykker af den Nordiske MythologieIV, maae jeg tilstaae ønskede jeg hellere engang i Tiden at kunde giøre hjeme, da jeg her Mangler de fornödne Kilder, den Nordiske Mythologie indeholder vidst mange skjønne Emner for Malerie, som jeg ret alvorligen skal tage fat paa naar jeg komer hjem. Til denne Altertavle har jeg bestilt Dugen som alt er færdig, da det er mig selv overladt at vælge Emnet, har jeg troet at det ey kunde være upassende at vælge Quinderne som komer til Christi Grav og Engelen som siger han er opstanden, i Baggrunden Korset, og Vagten som tager flugten, jeg arbeider paa Esquisen dertil, det er ogsaa passende til formatet, som er i forhold høy og Smal. Jeg arbeider stedse uafbrudt og søger at benyte Tiden og den skjøne Leilighed saa meeget som mueligt jeg har de to mindre Stykker færdige til Hr. Nathansen, det er Halcyone som tilvinker hendes Mand sidste farvel, og hendes Drøm om hans Død, foruden nogle andre Smaating, saa har jeg begyndt Ulyses som slaaes med Frierne og en Grupe af Checrops Døttere som aabner Kurven og opdager Minervas Hemelighed, dette sidste arbeider jeg paa nærværende, figurerne er nesten Legemsstørrelse, naar det er færdigt begynder jeg paa vores fortreffelige Thorvaldsens Portrait. Jeg har det Forsæt at vil giøre en Samling af de skjøneste af de mange Maleriske Partier af Rom og Omegnen, derpaa har jeg arbeidet heele Foraaret, jeg har alt henved en halv snes smaae SkizerV færdige som alle ere malte færdige paa Stedet efter Naturen, jeg indskrænker mig især paa Architectoniske Ting, omendskjønt man har tusinde Kobberstik af alle disse Ting den største Nøyagtighed i Farver, Form og Linier søger jeg at iagttage og haaber derved at kunde giøre Dem og mine Landsmænd et temeligt Tydeligt Begreb om dette skjøne Land, her er det nesten en umuelighed at frasige sig Landskabsmalerie, Naturen er alt for skjøn og Pitoresk.
Gierne ønskede jeg at kunde snart sende noget hiem af mine Arbeider, men det vilde dog nok være bedre at bie til alting kunde kome paa eengang, da veyen er saa lang. Alle Bestillinger skal jeg stræbe at fyldestgiøre. Det Stykke som Sekretair Bang ønsker, kan han bekome for 300 Francs. Jeg kan ey saa nøye besteme Prisen paa den Altertavle, men jeg kan vel ey have mindre end henved en 600 Francs foruden transporten, det er lidet over hundrede Skudi, det vilde mig kjært om jeg kunde faae en 3 Deel udbetalt paa den i forskud. For al Deres Omsorg De har med at anbringe mine Ting og arangere mine Sager, som giør Dem meegen Umage kan jeg ey noksom Takke Dem, jeg kan aldrig forskylde Dem de Venskabelige Tjenester De har beviist mig, men jeg vil stedse blive Taknemelig, Himelen give Dem bedste Sundhed og Velgaaende, og mig den Lykke at see Dem frisk og vel igien, for mundtligen at ytre Dem min Tak og min Hengivelse, og undskyld De nu at jeg slutter, og vedlægger noget til Bagge og MøllerVI, neste Gang skal jeg meedele Dem meere om Rom og Konsten, Vores fortræffelige Thorvaldsen og Malling hilser Dem Meeget.
Truly I have received your two last letters one from the 10th of May and the other the 4th of June with the bill, the latter 1st July for which I sincerely thank you. Your last letter from last year of 9th October with news of Möller and Bagge I have received and sent an answer bearing the date of November 13 last year. At the same time I wrote to the Academy of Fine Arts, an answer to a rather pleasant letter in which was expressed to me the best approval of my works which had been sent home from Paris, but I am sorry to hear that none of them has arrived. All the Danes present here have for long lived in very low spirits until affairs finally took a decided turn, as we had neither letters nor any information from our dear native country. And we should have been in worse troubles because of lack of money if our kind friend Thorvaldsen had not helped us. Now again we have received letters and furthermore we have the pleasure often again to read something in the papers about our Denmark, which is delightful. There is much talk about the Norwegian matters.
Many thanks for both your letters, in the first I was happy to see my financial state, what it actually is, I dread the thought of enormous debt, which usually increases, and I do not know at all how to pay it off. For this reason I often wish the period of my journey had come to an end, even though the termination is approaching at rapid pace, and other things must as it happens wait till I come home. I thank you and the kind Mr G.C.Clasen for the latter and the bill he has seen to having sent to me of 554 francs 65 cent. On equal terms this sum would have been valid 103 Roman Scudi 66 Bajocci, but because of an unfavourable exchange in Paris I received 100 Scudi 76 Bajocci. Baron von Brown, an old Norwegian who has stayed here for many years and who well understands such matters, has sold it for me. Till half of June last year the kind Thorvaldsen had advanced me 100 Scudi, but as he was afraid to get into difficulties himself I applied to Baron v. Schubart, who immediately showed me the favour of giving me a credit of 100 Scudi on my grant, which I received shortly before the arrival of your last letter. I cherish the hope that he will not be very insistent even though the Academy shall not pay for a long time. This noble person goes to Denmark before long, then you may have a chance to speak to him. I am indeed pleased that I can pay off some of my debt and commence again to work at some things I have begun. To the great pleasure of all of us I hear that our exchange rate is said to have increased considerably, I can well imagine how much you must have suffered in Denmark during this disastrous time, I wish to God that it had ended for the best, and that we were able to perceive better times.
It has pleased me infinitely to get the chance to make another large painting, the altarpiece for Count Wedel Jarlsberg. This is something, which can be done with advantage here in Rome. The 2 other pieces from Nordic mythology I must confess I wish to be able to make at home in future, as here I lack the necessary sources, the Nordic mythology certainly contains many beautiful subjects for painting, which I shall seriously work at when I come home. For this altar piece I have ordered the canvas, which is ready. As it has been left to me to choose the subject I have thought it proper to choose the women who arrive at the Sepuchre and the angel who says he is risen, in the background the Cross, and the guard who takes flight. I am working at the sketch for it, it is suitable for the size which in proportion is high and narrow. I work incessantly and strive to make use of time and the beautiful opportunity as well as possible. I have the two smaller pieces ready for Mr Nathansen, it is Halcyone who is waving a last good bye to her husband and her dream about his death besides some other small pieces. Then I have commenced ‘Ulysses fighting with the suitors’ and a group of Checrops’ daughters who open the basket and discover Minerva’s secret, the latter I am working at at present, the figures are almost life-size. When I have finished it I shall start on the portrait of our excellent Thorvaldsen. I have the intention to make a collection of the most beautiful of the many picturesque parts of Rome and its surroundings, I have worked at it all spring. I have about a dozen of small sketches ready, which have all been finished on the spot from life. I confine myself especially to architectural subjects though there are thousands line engravings of all these subjects I strive to maintain the greatest exactitude in colours, form and lines and thus hope to give you as well as my countrymen a clear idea of this beautiful country, here it is almost impossible to renounce landscape painting, the scenery is too beautiful and picturesque.
I would fain be able to send some of my works home soon, but it may be better to wait until everything can be sent at one time as it is such a long way. I shall strive to meet all commissions. The piece, which secretary Bang wishes he can have for 300 francs. I cannot exactly decide the price of the altar piece, but I reckon that I cannot accept less but 600 francs besides the transport. It is a little more than one hundred Scudi; I should like to have a third of it paid off in advance. I cannot thank you sufficiently for all the care you take to place my things and see to my matters, which gives you much trouble, I can never repay you the friendly favours you have shown me, but I shall ever remain grateful to you. Heaven grant you the best of health and me the pleasure to see you well again to express my thanks and my attachment and excuse that I finish now and enclose something for Bagge and Møller. Next time I shall tell you more about Tome and of art. Our excellent Thorvaldsen and Malling ask to be remembered to you.
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Dette er et udkast til et afsendt brev. Udkastet er skrevet af efter den trykte afskrift i Bramsen & Ragn Jensen, op. cit.
Sidst opdateret 28.09.2016
Brev af 13.11.1813 til Clemens.
De to andre breve kendes p.t. ikke.
Brev af 8.11.1813 til Kunstakademiet, Håndskriftafdelingen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Add. 301-2 (IV-34).
Dvs. Eckersbergs altertavle Kvinderne med englen ved Christi grav, Sem Kirke, Vestfold, Norge. Altertavlen blev udført for grev Johan Caspar Herman Wedel Jarlsberg (1779-1840).
Eckersberg udførte, så vidt vides, ingen malerier med nordiske emner i Rom.
Det er p.t. ikke ganske klarlagt, hvilke af de romerske prospekter, der er malet efter opholdet i Rom.
Brev af 23.7.1814 til Bagge, Håndskriftafdelingen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Add. 301-2 (IV-59).
Brev af 23.7.1814 til J.P. Møller.