THORVALDSENS
Art Museum
.png)
+5
Tags
museum
art collection
sculptures
paintings
antiquities
About
Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen’s first public museum founded in 1848, presents the life and legacy of neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Designed by Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll, the vivid architecture, colorful walls, mosaic floors, ornate ceilings, framed Thorvaldsen’s 900 plus marble and plaster works with an Italianate studio light ambiance. Nestled next to Christiansborg Palace and built around his burial courtyard, it’s a cultural landmark steeped in history.
Discover a multisensory treasure at Thorvaldsens Museum on Slotsholmen. Funded publicly after Thorvaldsen donated his sculptures, sketches, antiquities, paintings, and personal effects to Copenhagen, the museum remains virtually unchanged since its opening in 1848, the walls echoing Pompeiian, Egyptian, and Greek motifs, richly decorated ceilings, and serene natural light cast through high windows reminiscent of his Roman atelier. Visitors admire iconic mythological masterpieces like "Jason with the Golden Fleece", "Ganymede with Jupiter’s Eagle", and "Venus with the Apple", alongside portrait busts and original models that reveal Thorvaldsen’s artistic process. A striking frieze by Jørgen Sonne chronicles Thorvaldsen’s triumphant return to Copenhagen, encircling the façade, while the inner courtyard houses his tomb amid painted exotic vegetation. Eco‑certified as a Green Attraction, the museum also offers rotating contemporary exhibitions, audio guides, and guided tours ideal for art lovers, history buffs, and architecture enthusiasts seeking an immersive Nordic‑Italianate experience.