Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen
The Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen is an elegant love letter to the country's favorite Neoclassical sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. The man may have spent most of his days chiseling gods and heroes under the Roman sun, but his artistic home is right here, back on Danish turf鈥攐r rather Danish island turf鈥� the Castle Island.
The museum, designed in the 1800s, looks like it crash-landed in the city straight from Ancient Greece鈥� with a few detours through Pompeii and Egypt. The architect, Michael Gottlieb Bindesb酶ll, went full-on classical remix there (combining elements from Greek, Pompeian, and Egyptian architecture) to create this structure between 1838 and 1848. Giant trapezoidal doors? Check. Palm trees, lions, crocodiles painted in a dreamy inner courtyard? Also check. Oh, and speaking of the courtyard鈥擳horvaldsen himself is buried right there in the middle. Talk about staying close to your work...
The exterior鈥檚 got flair too: don鈥檛 miss the frieze by J酶rgen Sonne, which celebrates Thorvaldsen's dramatic homecoming from Rome in 1838. Think of it as a 19th-century version of a red carpet moment鈥攐nly with more togas and fewer paparazzi.
Inside, the museum showcases Thorvaldsen's works in marble and plaster, including original plaster models used for casting bronze sculptures. These works are now exhibited worldwide in museums, churches, and other locations. Additionally, you鈥檒l find paintings and ancient trinkets from Greece, Rome, and Egypt, all handpicked by Bertel himself. Because every sculptor needs a good souvenir collection. His personal tools, letters, and odds and ends are also on display. Ever wonder what a genius used to stir his coffee? Wonder no more.
Tip:
On Wednesdays entry is free. You're welcome.
Get the audio guide鈥攊t鈥檚 organized well and lets you nerd out just the right amount.
And whatever you do, look up, look down, and soak it all in鈥擳horvaldsen would鈥檝e wanted it that way.
The museum, designed in the 1800s, looks like it crash-landed in the city straight from Ancient Greece鈥� with a few detours through Pompeii and Egypt. The architect, Michael Gottlieb Bindesb酶ll, went full-on classical remix there (combining elements from Greek, Pompeian, and Egyptian architecture) to create this structure between 1838 and 1848. Giant trapezoidal doors? Check. Palm trees, lions, crocodiles painted in a dreamy inner courtyard? Also check. Oh, and speaking of the courtyard鈥擳horvaldsen himself is buried right there in the middle. Talk about staying close to your work...
The exterior鈥檚 got flair too: don鈥檛 miss the frieze by J酶rgen Sonne, which celebrates Thorvaldsen's dramatic homecoming from Rome in 1838. Think of it as a 19th-century version of a red carpet moment鈥攐nly with more togas and fewer paparazzi.
Inside, the museum showcases Thorvaldsen's works in marble and plaster, including original plaster models used for casting bronze sculptures. These works are now exhibited worldwide in museums, churches, and other locations. Additionally, you鈥檒l find paintings and ancient trinkets from Greece, Rome, and Egypt, all handpicked by Bertel himself. Because every sculptor needs a good souvenir collection. His personal tools, letters, and odds and ends are also on display. Ever wonder what a genius used to stir his coffee? Wonder no more.
Tip:
On Wednesdays entry is free. You're welcome.
Get the audio guide鈥攊t鈥檚 organized well and lets you nerd out just the right amount.
And whatever you do, look up, look down, and soak it all in鈥擳horvaldsen would鈥檝e wanted it that way.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Copenhagen. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Thorvaldsens Museum on Map
Sight Name: Thorvaldsens Museum
Sight Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (See walking tours in Copenhagen)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (See walking tours in Copenhagen)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark
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