Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélags Íslendinga - 01.01.1963, Page 109

albert thorvaldsen, sculptor
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the collection, and the work was
accomplished in 1848, four years
^fter Thorvaldsen died.
Very fittingly, the building is de-
signed in a pure Greek style, in the
form of a square, enclosing an open
court in the centre of which is the
ttiausoleum, carved with lilies, hold-
lng the remains of the departed
artist. The museum was designed
hy the eminent architect, M. G.
Bindesböll and raised under his di-
rection. Later the outer walls were
decorated with scenes depicting
events in the life of Thorvaldsen.
This was the work of the artist, J.
Sonne. Bronze statues adorn the
front of the building particularly
around the main entrance, the
central figure being a magnificent
statue of the Goddess of Victory,
done by the sculptor H. V. Bissen,
from the designs made by Thor-
valdsen himself. Other figures in
the group were designed by H. E.
Freund, a lifelong friend of the
artist.
We must not overlook the fact
fhat, although at that time Iceland
was indeed a poor country financial-
ly speaking, a considerable sum of
money was raised there to contri-
bute to this worthy momument.
The Thorvaldsen Museum con-
tains, not only the works of the
Sculptor himself, all those that could
collected, or of whom reliable
^aodels could be made, as well as
m°st of his originals in plaster, but
also a notable collection of other
famous works in painting and sculp-
*Ure> and a great many antique
Veasures, such as bronze from
ersia, jars from Egypt, rare jewels
and coins from Greece and other
lands; a large collection of earthen-
ware, lamps, and marble statues
from the Greek-Roman era. In ad-
dition the museum contains the
sculptor’s own designs, drawings,
books, letters and other personal
effects. Of his own works there are
some 150 statues, 200 busts and 350
high-reliefs and bas-reliefs. Many of
these items are naturally his orig-
inals in plaster or clay, but the glory
of the collection are his statues in
gleaming marble. In these statues
we recognize the majestic purity of
conception, the effortless, smooth
charm of execution which were the
hallmark of Bertel Thorvaldsen as
a sculptor.
As we stand in awe and admir-
ation before the greatest works of
arts we are lifted up into a higher
sphere, as it were, and we realize
that too much and too often we are
concerned with the trivial, the petty
things of life, instead of opening
our minds to the lasting beauties
that have been created by God and
by man. We feel with the noble
Icelandic poet, Einar Benediktsson,
that all is “svo lítið og lágt, sem lifað
er fyrir, og barizt er móti”. It is a
sad commentary on human endea-
vour that many petty individuals
will not admit to the good works of
others, feeling that it will make
them smaller, by comparison. But
surely we should know that the
best things created by the soul of
man, in its infinite surge upward
to beauty and goodness, is our
treasure too, and will help to lift
us, into the higher realm of that
creative endeavour, wherein each