Thorvaldsen Museum - Denmark, Copenhagen

Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) is one of Denmark’s best known artists. For more than 40 years he lived in Rome where he became one of the most important European representatives of Neo-Classicist sculptural art.

Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen on November 19th, 1770, to poor parents. His father was a carver and immigrant from Iceland. His mother was the daughter of a parish clerk at the village of Lemvig. The young Bertel entered the Art Academy in Copenhagen at the young age of 11 with an unusually bright talent and was educated here as a sculptor until 1793. In 1796 he got the opportunity of travelling to Rome as the Academy’s scholar for three years to be further educated. But he stayed in Rome, received numerous orders and became one of Europe’s best known artists.

He welcomes worshippers into a world of neoclassical serenity. Statues of the 12 apostles line the nave — carved by the great Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Inspired by the famous Italian sculptor Canova, his art complements the relative austerity and comforting simplicity of Lutheran worship.

 The apostles lead to Thorvaldsen's masterpiece: a statue of the risen Christ. Thorvaldsen was a master at showing both heavenly and human characteristics. Wearing his burial shroud Jesus opens his arms and says, "Come to me."

Copenhagen Lego Style

The boys were thrilled to find a Lego store on our walking tour.  Here is Nyhavn Lego style.  A five minute walk brought us to the real thing!

Nyhavn, a recently gentrified sailors' quarter, lounges comfortably around a canal. A few lonely tattoo parlors and smoky taverns stubbornly defend their salty turf against a rising tide of trendy, expensive cafés.

 

The Little Mermaid and some "laughs" by the fountain

Copenhagen, Denmark 2012

 "Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as a cornflower, as clear as crystal, and very, very deep..." there lived a young mermaid. So begins one of Hans Christian Andersen's — and Denmark's — best-known stories.

One day, a young mermaid spies a passing ship and falls in love with a handsome human prince. The ship is wrecked in a storm, and she saves the prince's life. To be with the prince, the mermaid asks a sea witch to give her human legs. In exchange, she agrees to give up her voice and the chance of ever returning to the sea. And, the witch tells her, if the prince doesn't marry her, she will immediately die heartbroken and without an immortal soul. The mermaid agrees, and her fish tail becomes a pair of beautiful but painful legs. She woos the prince — who loves her in return — but he eventually marries another. Heartbroken, the mermaid prepares to die. She's given one last chance to save herself: She must kill the prince on his wedding night. She sneaks into the bedchamber with a knife...but can't bear to kill the man she loves. The mermaid throws herself into the sea to die. Suddenly, she's miraculously carried up by the mermaids of the air, who give her an immortal soul as a reward for her long-suffering love.

credit to http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0807/little_mermaid.htm

Amalienborg Palace Changing of the Guard

I adore a marching band.   Just as we finished our polse sandwich, we turned around on Stoget (pedestrian walking street) to see the Amalienborg Guards parading to the palace for the ceremonial "changing of the guard".  

"Real Food" real good!

http://unlike.net/copenhagen/food/bio-mio

Bio Mio is so yummy and fun too.  It's located in the old "meat packing" district in Copenhagen.  A trendy scene, asking customers to make food choices cafeteria style then select the chef behind the counter and place your order.  The chef will take the electronic card you received at the entrance and add up your purchases.  All the food is made from local and thus, fresh resources.  It was delicious.  My only regret was not getting what my eldest son picked (pork loin - see top right picture). 

Entertainment too?  No, just the Bearyhead being, well the bearyhead. 

Hot Diggitty Dog

The pølse, Denmark's answer to our hot dog, is sold from sausage wagons (pølsevognen) throughout the city. Yummy (but messy)  For about 2 euro a "dog" it's a "crowd pleaser" for our family of 5 for just under 12 euro -- HOT DOG!

Copenhagen's Treasures-Scandinavia Part 5

Gundestrup Cauldron

Peat bog, Gundestrup (Denmark)

First century B.C.E.

Silver partially gilded

Diameter 69cm., Height 42cm.

Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet
Educational Link:  http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/Gundestrup/kauldron.html

Our first day in Copenhagen, ties together are famous Celts (see Ireland June 2011) and their raiding "cousins" across the seas.  Our Viking exploration continues in Copenhagen's National Museum.  This is an outstanding museum.  It really tells a complete story of the ancient civilizations and provides terrific historical pieces and artifacts.  A very interesting piece is show above (definitely one on the "must see" list according to Lord Clark from his epic Civilization) in the Gundestrup Cauldron.   What is so impressive here is the condition.  It is in excellent condition for a 2000 year old artifact.  This is thanks mostly to the peat bog's preservation characteristics.  I adore the way the Danes have illuminated the cauldron to show off it's highly polished silver -- it adds so to the mysterious and ominous (this may have been used in religious sacrifices) nature.  In it's presence, even behind the glass case, I feel it's pagan power draw me.  

Ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen-Scandinavia Part 4

Logistically speaking, Scandinavia provides wonderful (albeit super expensive) transportation inside each countries' borders and everything inbetween.  This is the ferry we sailed overnight from Oslo to Copenhagen.  Because Norway has very high taxes on certain goods, many of the Norwegians hop a ride to Denmark, where once away from the shore, duty-free shopping begins.