The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives

An Open Archive of Written Sources

Explore 10091 documents – from contracts to love letters – by and about the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844). Scans and transcripts of all the documents are available, as well as other texts about Thorvaldsen’s work, life, and international context.

Use the Archives as you see fit.

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Beyond Clichés

When it comes to Thorvaldsen, myths and clichés abound. The Archives allows you to (re)read the sources critically, and interpret them afresh!

By the Numbers

• 10.091 Documents total
• 8.244 In Thorvaldsens Museum
• 1.847 In other archives
• 1771-72 Oldest
• 1896 (1841-42) Youngest
• 761 From Thorvaldsen
• 5.829 To Thorvaldsen
• 3.501 To and from others
• 3.339 In Italian
• 4.200 In Danish
• 1.751 In German
• 654 In French
• 93 In English
• 54 Other languages
• 41.985 Commentaries
• 449 Related Articles
• 419 Subjects
• 3.172 Persons

Find Thorvaldsen's Sculptures in the Archives

Bacchus and Ariadne, A1 Bacchus, A2 Apollo, A3 Mercury about to Kill Argus, A5 Mars and Cupid, A6 Mars and Cupid, A7 Vulcan, A8 Vulcan, A9 Venus with the Apple, A12 Hercules, A14 Hercules, A15 Hercules, A16 Minerva, A17 Minerva, A18 Nemesis, A19 Aesculapius, A20 Aesculapius, A21 Cupid Triumphant, A22 Psyche, A26 Cupid and Psyche, A27 Cupid and Psyche, A28 Cupid and the Graces, A29 The Graces, A30 The Graces with Cupid's Arrow, and Cupid Playing a Lyre, A32 Cupid with the Lyre, A33 Cupid with the Bow, A36 Hebe, A37 Hebe, A39 Ganymede Offering the Cup, A41 Ganymede Filling the Cup, A42 Ganymede Filling the Cup, A43 Ganymede with Jupiter's Eagle, A44 Ganymede with Jupiter's Eagle, A45 Goddess of Hope, A46 Goddess of Hope, A47 Victory, A48 Jason with the Golden Fleece, A52 Adonis, A53 Pollux, A54 Caryatid, A55 Caryatid, A56 The Erythraean Sibyl, A57 The Cumaean Sibyl, A58 John the Baptist, A59 Youth, A60 Father with his Son, A61 Mother with her Son, A62 Old Scribe, A63 Reclining Youth, A64 A Boy, A65 Pharisee, A66 Hunter, A67 Two Children, A68 Mother with her Child, A69 Reclining Shepherd, A70 Christ, A82 Christ, A83 Christ, A84 Christ, A85 Peter, A86 Matthew, A87 John, A89 James the Less, A91 Philip, A93 Jude Thaddaeus, A94 Andrew, A95 Thomas, A96 James the Greater, A98 Bartholomew, A99 Simon Zelotes, A101 Paul, A103 Paul, A104 Jude Thaddaeus, A105 Jude Thaddaeus, A106 Jude Thaddaeus, A107 Andrew, A108 Baptismal Angel , A110 Baptismal Angel Kneeling, A112 Nicolaus Copernicus, A113 Johann Gutenberg, A114 The Invention of the Movable Types, A115 The Invention of the Printing Press, A116 Dying Lion (The Lucerne Lion), A119 Monument to Karl Philipp von Schwarzenberg, A120 Recumbent Lion, A121 Recumbent Lion, A122 Józef Poniatowski, A123 Józef Poniatowski, A124 Horse, A125 Józef Poniatowski, A126 Maximilian 1., A127 Maximilian 1., A128 George Gordon Byron, A130 The Genius of Poetry, A131 George Gordon Byron, A132 The Genius of Poetry, A134 Friedrich Schiller, A138 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, A140 Pius 7., A142 Heavenly Wisdom, A143 Divine Power, A144 The Coat of Arms of Pius 7., A145 Angel, A146 Angel, A147 Monument to Pius 7., A148 Conradin, A150 Christian 4., A152 Three Genii, A153 Wlodzimierz Potocki, A155 Eugène de Beauharnais, A156 The Genii of Life and Death, A157 Bertel Thorvaldsen with the Statue of Hope, A162 Caroline Amalie, A164 Jelizaveta Alexejevna Osterman-Tolstaja, A166 Jelizaveta Aleksejevna Osterman-Tolstaja, A167 Maria Fjodorovna Barjatinskaja, A171 Maria Fjodorovna Barjatinskaja, A172 Georgiana Elizabeth Russel, A173 Pietro Alberto Paulsen as a Hunter Boy, A175 Shepherd Boy, A177 Dancing Girl, A178 Dancing Girl, A179 Young Dancing Girl, A180 Apollinaris, A186 Martin Luther, A188 Ludvig Holberg, A190 Frederik 6., A191 Marie Sophie Frederikke, A192 Caroline, A193 Vilhelmine, A194 Christian (8.) Frederik, A197 Frederik (7.), A199 Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Ludwig, A201 Juliane Sophie, A202 Christian Carl Friedrich August, A203 Christian Carl Friedrich August, A204 Friedrich August Emil, A205 Friedrich August Emil, A206 A.P. Bernstorff, A207 A.P. Bernstorff, A208 A.P. Bernstorff, A209 Henrik Hielmstierne, A210 Conrad Rantzau, A211 Adam Gottlob Detlef Moltke, A212 Christine Stampe, A217 Ida Brun, A218 Herman Schubart, A219 Jacqueline Schubart, A220 Frederik Siegfried Vogt, A221 Bertel Thorvaldsen, A223 C.W. Eckersberg, A224 Tyge Rothe, A225 Adam Oehlenschläger, A226 Casper Bartholin, A227 J.C. Dahl, A229 Jørgen Knudtzon, A230 Hans Carl Knudtzon, A231 Ludwig (1.), A232 Ludwig (1.), A233 Karl Philipp von Schwarzenberg, A236 Wilhelm von Humboldt, A237 Giovanna Nugent, A239 Christoph August Tiedge, A240 Conrad Hinrich Donner, A242 Mrs von Krause, A244 Karoline von Rehfues, A245 Alexander 1., A246 Maria Aleksejevna Narysjkina, A248 Józef Poniatowski, A249 Maria Fjodorovna Barjatinskaja, A250 Napoleon Bonaparte, A252 Horace Vernet, A253 Horace Vernet, A254 Walter Scott, A255 George Gordon Byron, A256 George Gordon Byron, A257 Thomas Maitland, A258 Edward Pellew, A260 William Bentinck, A261 Alexander Baillie, A262 Henry Thomas Hope?, A266 Eliza Glenorchy?, A268 Julia Potocka, A269 Ercole Consalvi, A271 Marianna Florenzi, A278 Vittoria Caldoni, A279 Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar, A280 Vincenzo Camuccini, A282 Unknown, John O'Brien?, A284 Wriothesley Russel?, A285 Charles James Patrick Mahon?, A286 Jurij Aleksandrovitj Golovkin, A288 George Hilaro Barlow, A289 Artur Potocki, A291 Nicolaus Esterházy, A293 François Gabriel de Bray, A300 Ivan Vorontsov?, A302 John Campbell?, A303 Jevdokija Ivanovna Golitsyna, A304 Wilhelmine Benigna Biron, A312 Jupiter, Minerva and Nemesis, A316 Hercules and Hebe, A317 Hygieia and Aesculapius, A318 Minerva and Prometheus, A319 Nemesis and Jupiter, A320 Hercules and Hebe, A321 Hygieia and Aesculapius, A322 Minerva and Prometheus, A323 Nemesis and Jupiter, A324 The Hovering Graces, A338 The Procession to Parnassus, A339 The Dance of the Muses on Helicon, A341 The Muses of Tragedy and Comedy, A342 Apollo and the Shepherds, A344 Mercury Brings Bacchus to Ino, A346 Pan and a Satyr , A352 Pan and a Satyr, A353 Bacchante and a Satyr, A354 Bacchante and a Satyr, A355 Nemesis Attended by the Genii of Punishment and Reward, A364 The Fates, A366 Night, A369 Day, A370 Hygieia and Cupid, A373 Cupid and the Graces , A376 Cupid in Heaven, A381 Cupid on Earth, A382 Cupid at Sea, A383 Cupid in the Underworld, A384 Cupid Riding on a Lion, A390 Cupid and Jupiter, A392 Cupid, Jupiter and Juno, A394 Cupid and Ganymede, A395 Cupid and a Dog, A398 Cupid and a Butterfly, A399 Cupid and Bacchus, A407 Cupid and Bacchus, A408 Cupid by Anacreon, Winter, A415 Cupid by Anacreon, Winter, A416 Cupid Complains to Venus about a Bee Sting, A418 Venus, Mars and Cupid in the Smithy of Vulcan, A419 Venus, Mars and Cupid in the Smithy of Vulcan, A420 Cupid on a Swan, A421 Cupid on a Swan, A422 Shepherdess with a Nest of Cupids, A424 Shepherdess with a Nest of Cupids, A425 The Ages of Love, A426 The Ages of Love, A427 Cupid and the Sleeping Psyche, A428 Venus and Cupid, A433 Cupid and Psyche, A450 Cupid and Hymen, A451 Cupid and Hymen, A453 Cupid and Hymen, A455 Nessus and Deianira, A480 Hylas and the Water Nymphs, A483 Thetis and Achilles, A487 Chiron and Achilles, A488 Briseis and Achilles, A489 Briseis and Achilles, A490 Briseis and Achilles, A491 Priam Pleads with Achilles for Hector's Body, A492 Ulysses Receiving the Arms of Achilles , A497 Ulysses Receiving the Arms of Achilles , A498 Hector with Paris and Helen, A499 Hector with Paris and Helen, A500 Hector and Andromache, A501 Homer Singing for the People, A502 Alexander the Great's Entry into Babylon, A503 Alexander the Great in the Triumphal Chariot, A504 Alexander the Great's Entry into Babylon, A505 Alexander the Great's Entry into Babylon, A508 Alexander the Great Set Fire to Persepolis, A515 Alexander the Great Set Fire to Persepolis, A516 A Genio Lumen (The Genius of Art and Light) , A517 A Genio Lumen (The Genius of Art and Light) , A518 The Genius of Painting, A520 The Genius of Sculpture, A522 The Genius of Sculpture, A523 The Genius of Sculpture, A524 The Genii of Poetry and Harmony, A528 The Genius of Governmemt, A530 The Genius of Justice, A531 The Genius of the New Year, A548 Denmark, A550 Adam and Eve with Cain and Abel, A551 Rebecca and Eliezer, A553 The Judgement of Solomon, A554 Baptismal Font, Christ Blessing the Children, A555,4 Baptismal Font, Hovering Angels, A555,3 Baptismal Font, Mary with Jesus and John, A555,2 Baptismal Font, The Baptism of Christ, A555,1 Mary with Jesus and John, A556 The Baptism of Christ, A557 The Institution of Eucharist, A558 The Entry into Jerusalem, A559 Christ on the Road to Calvary, A560 The Resurrection, A561 Christ at Emmaus, A563 Christ Assigns the Leadership of the Church to Saint Peter, A565 Christ Blessing the Children, A566 The Annunciation, A569 The Adoration of the Shepherds, A570 The Fligth into Egypt, A571 Jesus as a Child in the Temple, A572 The Baptism of Christ, A573 The Entry into Jerusalem, A574 Luke, A581 The Genii of Music Singing, A586 The Genii of Music Playing, A587 The Genii of Music Playing, A588 Christmas Joy in Heaven, A589 Hovering Angels, A590 Hovering Angels, A591 The Child's Guardian Angel, A596 Caritas, A597 Caritas, A598 Minerva, Truth and Lie, A600 The Graces Listening to Cupid's Song, A601 The Graces Listening to Cupid's Song, A602 Hans Madsen and Johan Rantzau, A603 The Abolition of Villeinage, A604 The Establishment of Provincial Consultative Chambers, A605 Justice, A606 Protection of the Arts and Sciences, A607 Abolition of Villeinage, A608 Monument to Raphael , A611 Monument to Ercole Consalvi, A612 Monument to Vaccà Berlinghieri, A613 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,2 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,1 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,3 Monument to the two Poninski Children, A616 Monument to the two Poninski Children, A617 Monument to Jacqueline Schubart, A618 Monument to Anthony James Radcliffe, A622 The Genius of Death for the Monument to Wlodzimiers Potocki, A627 Children Praying, for the Monument to Artur Potocki, A628 Andrea Appiani, A629 Henrich Steffens, A633 Thorvaldsen with the Stampe Family, A636 Childhood or Spring, A638 Youth or Summer, A639 Manhood or Autumn, A640 Old Age or Winter, A641 Childhood or Spring, A642 Youth or Summer, A643 Manhood or Autumn, A644 Old Age or Winter, A645 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A700 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A701 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A702 Auguste Böhmer, A703 Monument to Jacqueline Schubart, A704 The Dance of the Muses on Helicon, A705 Alexander the Great in his Chariot, A712 Alexander the Great in his Triumphal Chariot, A713 Alexander 1., A715 Caroline Amalie, A716 George Gordon Byron, A717 Herman Schubart, A718 Jacqueline Schubart, A719 Wilhelmine Benigna Biron, A720 Christina Alexandra Egypta Bonaparte?, A726 Marianna Florenzi, A727 The Baptism of Christ, A736 Christ Blessing the Children, A737 Thorvaldsen, Sommariva and a Greek Warrior, A738 Monument to Anthony James Radcliffe, A740 Numa Pompilius and Egeria, A748 Hercules and Omphale, A749 Homer, A751 Raphael, A752 Christian (8.) Frederik, A753 Caroline Amalie, A754 Cupid Resting, A756 Euterpe, A757 Terpischore, A758 Agrippa, A759 Cicero, A760 Cicero, A761 Sophie Dorothea Høyer, A763 Friedrich Schiller, A770 Bertel Thorvaldsen with the Statue of Hope, A771 Priam Pleads with Achilles for Hector's Body, A775 Achilles and Penthesilea, A777 Cupid Complains to Venus about a Bee Sting, A780 Baptismal Angel Kneeling, A781 Cupid with the Lyre, A786 C.W. Eckersberg, A788 Adonis, A789 Adonis, A790 Wlodzimierz Potocki, A794 Cupid and Bacchus, A797 Jacob Baden, A802 Ida Brun, A810 Wilhelmine Benigna Biron, A811 A.P. Bernstorff, A817 Cupid with his Bow, A819 Psyche, A821 Jason with the Golden Fleece, A822 Thomas Hope, A823 Louisa Hope, A824 Henry Thomas Hope, A825 Adrian John Hope, A826 Cupid Received by Anacreon, Winter, A827 A Genio Lumen (The Genius of Art and Light) , A828 Heliodorus Driven out of the Temple, A829 Peter and John Healing a Lame Man, A830 Christoph August Tiedge, A851 Elisabeth von der Recke, A852 Venus with the Apple, A853 Ganymede Offering the Cup, A854 A.P. Bernstorff, A856 Caroline, A857 Nicolaus Copernicus, A858 Frederik 6., A859 Marie Sophie Frederikke, A860 Karoline von Rehfues, A861 Jacob Baden, A863 Cupid Revives Psyche, A866 Elisabeth von der Recke, A869 Hebe, A870 Mercury about to Kill Argus, A873 Hebe, A874 Hebe, A875 Ludvig Holberg, A876 Rosa Taddei, A877 Jacob Laurids Thrane, A881 Alexander 1., A883 Horace Vernet, A884 Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar, A887 George Hilaro Barlow, A892 Thomson Henry Bonar, A893 Cupid and the Graces, A894 Shepherd Boy, A895 Jane Craufurd, A898 Mathias Saxtorph, A899 Edmund Bourke, A900 Night, A901 Day, A902 Mathias Saxtorph, A903 Napoleon Bonaparte, A909 Cupid and the Graces, A911 Cupid Resting, A914 Venus with the Apple, A916 Venus and Cupid, A13 Triumphant Muse and Cupid, A49 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, A139 George Granville Leveson Gower, A259 Mercury Brings Bacchus to Ino, A347 Cupid with a Swan and Boys picking Fruit, Summer, A411 Cupid and Bacchus, Autumn, A413 Cupid Revives Psyche, A431 Nessus and Deianira, A481 The Genius of Poetry, A532 The Genius of Music, A535 Christ at Emmaus, A562 The Genii of Music Singing, A585 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,1 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,2 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,3 The Genius of Death for the Monument to Wlodzimiers Potocki, A626 Night, A905 Day, A906 Child's Head, A907 Head of an Angel, A908 Childhood or Spring, A910

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Selected Documents

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Jan

23

On this Day

• 23.1.1797
  Arrives at Palermo on Sicily.
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