The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives

An Open Archive of Written Sources

Explore 10246 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.

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Old Documents – Why?

This archive holds the primary written sources for Thorvaldsen’s life and work. The documents also extend beyond the sculptor, offering a vivid glimpse of the entire period from 1770 to 1850.

By the Numbers

• 10.246 Documents total
• 8.260 In Thorvaldsens Museum
• 1.986 In other archives
• 1771-72 Oldest
• 1896 (1841-42) Youngest
• 767 From Thorvaldsen
• 5.842 To Thorvaldsen
• 3.637 To and from others
• 3.375 In Italian
• 4.250 In Danish
• 1.816 In German
• 656 In French
• 95 In English
• 54 Other languages
• 45.581 Commentaries
• 459 Related Articles
• 420 Subjects
• 3.227 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 Cupid Triumphant, Examining his Arrow, A24 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, 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 Roman Warrior, A71 Youth, A74 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 Andrew, A109 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 Horse , A129 George Gordon Byron, A130 The Genius of Poetry, A131 George Gordon Byron, A132 The Genius of Poetry, A134 The Apotheosis of Friedrich Schiller, A135 The Genius of Poetry, A136 The Goddess of Victory, A137 Friedrich Schiller, A138 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, A139 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 Kneeling Angel, A159 Martin Luther, A160 Philipp Melanchton, A161 Bertel Thorvaldsen with the Statue of Hope, A162 Caroline Amalie, A164 Jelizaveta Alexejevna Osterman-Tolstaja, A166 Jelizaveta Aleksejevna Osterman-Tolstaja, A167 Seated Lady, A168 Seated Lady, A169 Maria Fjodorovna Barjatinskaja, A171 Maria Fjodorovna Barjatinskaja, A172 Georgiana Elizabeth Russel, A173 Jeanina Emilie Stampe as Psyche, A174 Pietro Alberto Paulsen as a Hunter Boy, A175 Shepherd Boy, A177 Dancing Girl, A178 Dancing Girl, A179 Young Dancing Girl, A180 Young Dancing Girl, A181 Apollinaris, A186 Martin Luther, A188 Ludvig Holberg, A190 Frederik 6., A191 Marie Sophie Frederikke, A192 Caroline, A193 Vilhelmine, A194 Christian (8.) Frederik, A197 Caroline Amalie, A198 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 Hans Holsten, A213 Conrad Danneskiold-Samsøe, A214 Louise Danneskiold-Samsøe, A216 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 Clemens Metternich, A234 Clemens Metternich, A235 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 Helen, A247 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 Edward Divett, A263 Henry Thomas Hope?, A266 Mary Ann Montagu, A267 Eliza Glenorchy?, A268 Julia Potocka, A269 Ercole Consalvi, A271 Giovanni Battista Sommariva, A272 Giovanni Battista Sommariva, A273 Giovanni Battista Sommariva, A274 Georg Wilhelm Wilding, A275 Catharina di Branciforte, A276 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 Jane Craufurd, A307 Marie Louise Playdeux?, A310 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 Clio, Muse of History, A328 Euterpe, Muse of Music, A329 Thalia, Muse of Comedy, A330 Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy, A331 Terpsichore, Muse of Dancing, A332 Erato, Muse of Lyric and Love Poetry, A333 Polyhymnia, Muse of Religious Poetry, A334 Urania, Muse of Astronomy, A335 Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry, A336 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 Diana and Jupiter, A345 Mercury Brings Bacchus to Ino, A346 Mercury Brings Bacchus to Ino, A347 The Birth of Venus, A348 Pan and a Satyr , A352 Pan and a Satyr, A353 Bacchante and a Satyr, A354 Bacchante and a Satyr, A355 Satyr Dancing with a Bacchante, A357 Satyr Dancing with a Bacchante, A358 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, A388 Cupid Riding on a Lion, A389 Cupid Riding on a Lion, A390 Cupid and Jupiter, A392 Cupid, Jupiter and Juno, A394 Cupid and Ganymede, A395 Cupid and a Dog, A396 Cupid and a Dog, A398 Cupid and a Butterfly, A399 Cupid and Bacchus, A407 Cupid and Bacchus, A408 Cupid with a Swan and Boys picking Fruit, Summer, A411 Cupid and Bacchus, Autumn, A413 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 Leda and the Swan, A423 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 Psyche and the Sleeping Cupid, A429 Cupid Revives Psyche, A431 Venus and Cupid, A433 Cupid and Psyche, A450 Cupid and Hymen, A451 Cupid and Hymen, A452 Cupid and Hymen, A453 Cupid and Hymen, A455 Cupid's Swansong, A456 Diana with her Hind, A459 Diana Surprised at her Bath, A460 Actaeon Torn by his Dogs, A461 Diana Killing Orion, A462 Orion Dying, A463 Chione and Daedalion, A464 Cupid and Diana, A465 Endymion, A466 Nymph with Bow, A467 Nymph with Arrow, A468 Nymph and a Young Girl, A469 Nymph with a Torch, A470 Hunting Nymph, A471 Callisto, A472 Atalanta, A473 Meleager, A474 Hero, A475 Adonis, A476 Narcissus and Cupid, A477 Apollo and Daphne, A478 Pan and Cupid, A479 Nessus and Deianira, A480 Nessus and Deianira, A481 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 Architecture, A521 The Genius of Sculpture, A522 The Genius of Sculpture, A523 The Genius of Sculpture, A524 The Genii of Painting, Architecture and Sculpture, A525 The Genius of Poetry, A526 The Genius of Poetry, A527 The Genii of Poetry and Harmony, A528 The Genius of Peace and Freedom, A529 The Genius of Governmemt, A530 The Genius of Justice, A531 The Genius of Poetry, A532 The Genius of Tragedy, A533 The Genius of Comedy, A534 The Genius of Music, A535 The Genius of Dancing, A536 The Genius of Government, A537 The Genius of War, A538 The Genius of Navigation, A539 The Genius of Trade, A540 The Genius of Medicine, A541 The Genius of Gardening, A542 The Genius of Agriculture, A543 The Genius of Astronomy, A544 The Genius of Religion, A545 The Genius of the New Year, A548 Denmark, A550 Adam and Eve with Cain and Abel, A551 Adam and Eve with Cain and Abel, A552 Rebecca and Eliezer, A553 The Judgement of Solomon, A554 Baptismal Font, The Baptism of Christ, A555,1 Baptismal Font, Mary with Jesus and John, A555,2 Baptismal Font, Hovering Angels, A555,3 Baptismal Font, Christ Blessing the Children, A555,4 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 Monument to Raphael , A611 Monument to Ercole Consalvi, A612 Monument to Vaccà Berlinghieri, A613 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,3 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,2 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,3 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,2 Monument to Johann Philipp Bethmann-Hollweg, A615,1 Monument to the two Poninski Children, A616 Monument to the two Poninski Children, A617 Monument to Jacqueline Schubart, A618 Monument to Anna Maria Porro Serbelloni, A619 Monument to Charles Drake Garrard and Wife, A620 Monument to Jozefa Borkowska, A621 Monument to Anthony James Radcliffe, A622 Monument to Stanislaus Chaudoir's Wife, A624 Woman Ascending to Heaven, above the Genius of Death, A625 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, A642 Youth or Summer, A643 Manhood or Autumn, A644 Old Age or Winter, A645 Hunter on a Horse, A646 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 Griffin and Lyre, A707 Lyre, A708 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 François Gabriel de Bray, A721 A.P. Bernstorff, A724 Christina Alexandra Egypta Bonaparte?, A726 Marianna Florenzi, A727 Hymen, A731 The Baptism of Christ, A736 Christ Blessing the Children, A737 Thorvaldsen, Sommariva and a Greek Warrior, A738 Monument to Anthony James Radcliffe, A740 Giovanni-Battista Sommariva, A741 Perseus and Andromeda, A742 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 Maximilian 1., A762 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 Dancing Girl, A778 Actaeon Torn by his Dogs, A779 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 Herman Schubart, A812 Jacqueline Schubart, A813 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 The Fisherman, A831 Hand, A850 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 Napoleon Bonaparte, A867 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 Georg Wilhelm Wilding, A890 Catharina de Branciforte, A891 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 Night, A905 Day, A906 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 George Granville Leveson Gower, A259 Victory, A362 Cupid and Jupiter, A391 The Flight of Latona, A458 Hylas and the Water Nymphs, A482 Hylas and the Water Nymphs, A484 Hylas and the Water Nymphs, A485 Christ at Emmaus, A562 The Genii of Music Singing, A585 Monument to Auguste Böhmer, A614,1 The Genius of Death for the Monument to Wlodzimiers Potocki, A626 Childhood or Spring, A638 Youth or Summer, A639 Manhood or Autumn, A640 Old Age or Winter, A641 Elisabeth von der Recke, A879 Vittoria Caldoni, A886 Holger Christian Reiersen, A896 Charlotte Kirstine Reiersen, A897 Child's Head, A907 Head of an Angel, A908 Childhood or Spring, A910

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Nov

27

On this Day

• 27.11.1837
  Meets the English painter George Richmond.
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