Bertel Thorvaldsen
Rom
Slotsbygningskommissionen
København
Ingen udskrift, da der er tale om et udkast.
Tilskrift: Til den Kongelige Bygning Comission / i Kiøbenhavn.
Dateringen fremgår af brevudkastet.
Tredje udkast til brev af 1.8.1818.
Rom den 1e August 1818
Jeg har med største Glæde modtaget den Skrivelse som den Kongelige Bygnings Comission har beæret mig med, under den 20 af f.M. Intet i Verden kunde være mig mere smigrende, og tillige behageligere end at beskiæftige mig for min Konge, og mit Fædreneland, og den Maade paa hvilken Hs Majestæt har værdiget at antage det Forslag som Hs Excellence GeheimRaad Baron Schubart giorde paa mine Vegne til Hs Høyhed Prinds Christian, opfylder mine kiereste Ønsker. Desværre traf Comissionens Brev mig, Syg saavel paa Legeme som paa Sind; men dette Brevs Indhold har atter opmuntret mig, og jeg vil ufortøvet begynde paa dette betydelige Arbeide som Hs Majestæt har bestilt hos mig. Til Cariatiderne har jeg alt to skiønne Stykker Marmor, og paa disse skal nu strax blive begynt; men da jeg til den store Fris mangler det fornødne Marmor og Indkiøbet af samme udfordre betydelige Udgifter, saa er det at jeg til Deels benytter Hans Majestæts allernaadigste Tilbud i Henseende til en tredie Deel af de 15000 Specier som ere mig bevilgede, og ønskede at bemeldte tredje Deel maatte strax af Comissionen remitteres mig. Arbeidet haaber jeg at kunde fuldføre i tre Aar, og hvad de øvrige Betalings Terminer angaaer, da kan disse fastsættes efter Kongens og Comissionens Velbehag, da jeg blot forlanger den Tredje Deel forud til det betydelige Indkiøb i rede Penge af hvidt Marmor til Frisen.
Da nu min Ven og Velynder Hs Excellence Baron Schubart har betroet mig at han har ansøgt om en Kongelig Tilladelse, at tilbringe næste Vinter i Kiøbenhavn, og tillige har foreslaaet mig at have den Glæde, i hans behagelige Sælskab at giøre en kort Reise til Fædrenelandet, saa har jeg med største Fornøyelse antaget dette hans Tilbud, og saa snart jeg erholder Comissionens gunstige Svar, og har forberedt Alt til mit yndlings Arbeides Fuldførelse, saa vil jeg med denne værdige Mand, reise til Fædrenelandet for at bevidne Kongen min allerunderdanigste Taknemmelighed, og for endnu engang førend jeg døer, at giensee mine Danske Venner, og det kiære Fødeland.
Jeg vil imidlertiid foranstalte Alt til at ingen Tid tabes her i mit Værksted, og at dette, saavel som flere betydelige Arbeider som jeg har under Hænder kan gaae deres Gang som om jeg selv var tilstæde.
Jeg beder Comissionen at være fuldkommen overbeviist om, at ved at antage det bestilte Arbeide, i et Øyeblik hvor jeg har saa mange og saa vigtige under Hænde, har jeg ingen anden Hensigt, end den at kunde overbevise min Konge, og mit Fædreneland om, hvor inderlig jeg er Dem hengivne, og hvor gierne jeg ønsker at man i Dannemark maatte besidde mit yndlings Arbeide. Jeg skal forene alle mine Kræfter til at udføre noget som kan være værdigt at pryde vor skiønne Konge – Borg, og da Dimentionerne efter det mig tilsendte Maal, ere større end de paa Slottet Monte Cavallo, saa kan jeg have den Tilfredshed, at forøge Sujettet med interessante Tilføyelser, af hvilke jeg nu vil beskæftige mig med at skabe Ideerne. Sluttelig beder jeg Comissionen, at ville se[nde]I mig dets ærede Svar under Hs Excellence Baron Schubarts Konvelut, da jeg agter i hans Sælskab at giøre en Reise til Toscana for der at samle nye Kræfter. De mangle mig aldeles i dette Øyeblik; men hvad der især vil bidrage til min Sundheds Gienerholdelse er den for mig saa glædelige Reise til Fædrenelandet, som jeg saa længe har attraaet at giøre, og som nu vil blive mig desto behageligere, da jeg kan foretage den i Sælskab af en Mand som jeg saa høyligen agter, og ynder. –
Hans Excellence har været saa god, med egen Haand at afskrive dette brev, da min er endnu for svag til at føre Pennen
Ærbødigst
Rome, August 1st 1818
With the greatest pleasure I have received the favour of the 20th last month with which the Royal Building Commission has honoured me. Nothing in the world could be more flattering and agreeable to me than occupying myself for my King and my native land, and the way in which His Majesty has vouchsafed to accept the proposal which His Excellency Geheimraad [titular Privy Councillor] Baron Schubart made on my behalf to His Highness Prince Christian fulfils my most cherished wishes. Unfortunately the Commission’s letter reached me ill in body as well as in mind; but the content of this letter has again enlivened me, and without delay I will begin this considerable work which His Majesty has commissioned from me. For the Caryatids I have two beautiful pieces of marble and these I shall immediately begin; but as I am short of the marble necessary for the large Frieze and the purchase of the same demands considerable expenses I shall partly make use of His Majesty’s most gracious offer as regards a third of the granted 15.000 two rix-dollars, and I wished that the mentioned third might immediately be remitted to me. I hope to be able to finish the work in three years, and as regards the other dates of payment they may be fixed according to the discretion of the King and the Commission. As I only demand the mentioned third in advance for the considerable purchase in cash of white marble for the Frieze.
As my friend and patron His Excellency Baron Schubart now has told me that he has petitioned for a royal permission to spend next winter in Copenhagen and besides has suggested to me to have the pleasure to make a short journey to the native land in his pleasant company, I have with the greatest delight accepted his offer, and as soon as I receive the favourable answer from the Commission and have prepared everything for the execution of my favourite work, I will with this worthy person go to the native land to express my most humble gratitude to the King and once more before I die to see my Danish friends and the dear native land.
In the meantime I shall organize everything so that no time is lost here in my studio and so that this as well as several important works which I have in hands can take their course as if I myself were present.
I beg the Commission to be completely convinced that by accepting the commissioned work at a moment when I have so many and so important works in hands I have no other intention but to convince my King and my native land how sincerely I am attached to you and how much I wish Denmark to possess my favourite work. I shall unite all my energy to execute something which may be worthy of ornamenting our beautiful Royal Palace, and as the dimensions according to the measure which has been sent to me, are bigger than the ones of the Castle of Monte Cavallo, I may be contented to augment the subject with interesting additions for which I now will occupy myself with creating ideas. In conclusion I ask the Commission to se[nd] me its honoured answer under His Excellency Baron Schubart’s cover as I intend to make a journey in his company to Tuscany to recuperate. I completely lack strength at this moment; but what will especially contribute to the recovery of my health is the for me so happy journey to the native land, which I have strived for so long to make and which now will be more agreeable as I can make it in the company of a person whom I respect so highly and am fond of. –
His Excellency has been as kind as to copy this letter in his own hand, as mine is still too weak to wield the pen
Most humbly,
[Translated by Karen Husum]
Herman Schubart
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Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A55 |
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Karyatide, 1813, inv.nr. A56 |
Sidst opdateret 11.10.2016
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