The Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen. His year of birth is not clearly documented, he himself gave the year 1768. The research done so far on this matter revealed that he was probably born in 1770.
He grew up in poor circumstances, his mother was the daughter of a preacher. His father came from Iceland and worked as a woodcarver. Certainly, the young Bertel thus became familiar with this art at an early age and was eager to emulate his father. Thus he received the first descriptive instruction in the parental home.
His talent was already evident in his childhood. Finally, at the age of eleven, Bertel Thorvaldsen was given the opportunity to attend the "Royal Danish Academy of Art" in Copenhagen as a free student. One of his most important teachers was the architect and sculptor Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard. After only a few years, Bertel Thorvaldsen was awarded the "Small Silver Medal" for his successful modeling. In addition, the young man received the "Large Silver Medal" for the relief "Resting Cupid". These and other awards of great relief works of the young artist, of course, caused a great sensation. It so happened that he was generously supported with funds for his studies.
A highlight in his artistic life was the award of the "Great Gold Medal" and the associated travel grant to Rome. This Italian city with its ancient flair was a very special attraction for artists of all genres.
Rome became his second home and inspired him again and again. In total, he spent almost forty years there and with great diligence executed numerous works, including statues, monuments and tombs. Famous, for example, is his tomb for Pope Pius VII in St. Peter's Church in Rome. Bertel Thorvaldsen often met with Scandinavian poets and sculptors in the "Caffè Greco", Via Condotti. At that time Bertel Thorvaldsen became a good friend for the Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen, who could often give him advice and comfort.
Bertel Thorvaldsen belongs to the era of classicism, because he worked with pure materials, such as marble and bronze. The artists of classicism see in antiquity the ideal model for their works. He also became known as a medalist.
Bertel Thorvaldsen returned to Denmark from Rome around 1838. The Baroness Stampe set up his own studio on one of her estates. There Thorvaldsen met with other artists for conversation. His friend, the poet Hans Christian Andersen, often visited him here.
Bertel Thorvaldsen also stayed in Germany to work. At the Maxen manor of the Serre family of factory owners near Dresden, he was able to work on a bas-relief, a rather flat relief, with motifs of "Cupid and Psyche". There was a marble quarry nearby as well as factories and workshops owned by the family.
Completely unexpectedly, Bertel Thorvaldsen died in 1844 after a visit to the theater in his hometown of Copenhagen.
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.jpg "Cupid Brings the Rose to Jupiter and Juno by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Various drafts including relief \"Adam and Eve\" 1838 and \"Atalanta\" relief: Villa Torlonia 1837 by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Draft for Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Paris and the Three Goddesses by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1559140).jpg "Bacchus, Diana and Victory by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Hjalmar and Ingeborg by Andreas Flint")
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.jpg "The Institution of Eucharist by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Apollo, the Graces and the Muses by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-144979).jpg "Shepherd Boy, 1817 by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Maries at the Sepulchre by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Maries at the Sepulchre by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Bacchanal Procession with Bacchus and Ariadne. Two Statues of Muses by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Bacchus and Two Fauns by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Triumph of Alexander the Great (detail) by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Johannes Gutenberg in his Workshop by Andreas Flinch")
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.jpg "Paris and the Three Goddesses. Venus and Cupid by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Cupid Complains to Venus about a Bee Sting by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Three Dancing Bacchantes by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Christ and the Samaritan Woman by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Gyrithe by Andreas Flint")
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.jpg "Agamemnon")
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.jpg "Cupid and Anacreon by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Pan and Cupid by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "A. Senff, The Night with Her Children by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Bacchus, Diana and Victory by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Draft for a Grave Relief by F. Hendriksen")
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.jpg "The Angel on Christ")
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.jpg "Cupid Complains to Venus about a Bee Sting by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Cupid Brings the Rose to Jupiter and Juno by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Way to Her is Through My Heart by Andreas Flint")
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.jpg "Hylas and the Water Nymphs by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Regner and Svanhvide by Andreas Flint")
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.jpg "The Institution of the Eucharist by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Frederike Dorothea Hammer by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Hylas and the Water Nymphs by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Prometheus and Minerva by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Venus with the golden apple by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Apollo, the Graces and the Muses by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Christ and the Samaritan Woman by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Three Dancing Bacchantes by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Fates by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Pan and Cupid by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "A Heroic Male Nude by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "The Fates by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Cupid and Anacreon by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Cupid and Psyche by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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_Offers_a_Panther_to_Drink_-_(MeisterDrucke-875465).jpg "Bacchant (a Young Satyr) Offers a Panther to Drink by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Hector by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Frederike Dorothea Hammer by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Cupid Complains to Venus of a Beesting by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Agamemnon")
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.jpg "Nessus and Deianira by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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.jpg "Apollo by Andreas Flint")
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.jpg "Jupiter as Satyr and Antiope by Bertel Thorvaldsen")
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