Guide to Equestrian Statues in Copenhagen E-Book

Erik Appel

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 106

Beschreibung

It is both a practical and a historical guide to equestrian statues in Copenhagen. It includes in total 11 pieces of art - 5 Dansh Kings and an a big Archbishop, and 5 other types of artistic figures on horsebacks. All works of art can (except one) be viewed within walking distance from Kongens Nytorv - the most central Square in Copenhagen. All are located in the public space and easily accessible, free of charge! The guide is critical of each work of art, with the aim of giving the reader a good insight into the history of the creation of each work. In some cases, the background is both repulsive and even infuriating, although the work at the same time is admirable. It does not decide on the hot question of the time about the relevance of the artwork - the reader must decide for him- or herself.

Leseprobe

Content

Preface

A guide to 11 artistic sculptures in Central Copenhagen

The Equestrian Statue of King Christian V on Kongens Nytorv from 1688

About the life of King Christian V

The Equestrian Statue of King Frederik V from 1771

Peak times in Denmark

Frederiksstaden - A new city district emerges

From the palace square of Amalienborg to Skt. Annæ Plads

The Equestrian Statue of King Christian X

Kongens Nytorv - The King`s Square - once more

The Equestrian Statue of Bishop Absalon

The Equestrian Statue of King Frederik VII

The Equestrian Statue of King Christian IX

The Valkyrie in Churchill Park

The Flute Player at Grønningen

Diana on Horse at Trondhjems Plads

A Barbarian at Hirschsprung's Collection

Youth on Horseback at Rødkilde Plads

Preface

This guide is due to my interest in history, architecture, sculptural art (handicraft), and urban environment. Equestrian statues are almost, alone by their size and form of expression, always so fascinating that they relate to all the above four conditions,

When this fascination in addition can be combined with outdoor exercise in the form of a brisk walk through the city, then I hope the temptation is so great, that you throw yourself into the project. As an extra bonus all objects of art mentioned in this booklet, are easily accessible in the public space, free of charge.

So: Grab your walking shoes and keep this booklet in your hand and go for it in the incredibly marvelous old Copenhagen behind the ramparts.

If possible, read a little in the booklet from home or on the way - the experience of the various works of art becomes so much greater, when you know a little about their background.

You are guided carefully to the location of each of the eleven sculptures. A map on the back of this booklet shows the location of each piece of art.

Sometimes you are surprised and perhaps even challenged, when you are confronted with the background of a sculpture's complicated and perhaps even bizarre background.

The guided tours include 5 kings and a bishop on a horseback with the possibility of extension to a further 6 different more artistically exciting objects.

Set aside a few hours or more. If necessary, extend the trip by stopping at many of the countless temptations along the way in the form of cafés, restaurants, museums and other attractions in wonderful Copenhagen.

Enjoy!

Erik Appel

A guide to 11 artistic sculptures in Central Copenhagen - all accessible in the public space

So, put on your walking shoes, and off to Kongens Nytorv (The King´s square), see the map on the back. Here begins the guide to many fine experiences with incredibly beautiful and interesting equestrian statues. Each and every statue has a special history, size and shape, that says something about the time they represent. Some works are interesting, in the way they were created, long after the time they depict and therefore more reflect today's perception of the past.

An equestrian statue is a very large project for a sculptor and usually also for the person or party, who is paying. And, as we shall see in several concrete cases, it always takes many years to make a sculpture as large as an oversized equestrian statue; it can even be a threat to the atist`s own health and life!

Equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Rome approx. 171 AD. This is a copy, the original is inside the Palazzo Conservatori on the left

The mother of all equestrian statues has to be the equestrian statue of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Rome.

This original gilded masterpiece of Marcus Aurelius contains it all, the mystery of the creation, who is the artist and where did it come from. The statue is so perfectly executed that it has always been the model for most classical equestrian statues in the world. The fact that it stands on Capitol Square (Piazza del Campidoglio) in Rome, one of the most beautiful classical squares in the world, designed by Michelangelo himself, makes the experience even better.

In Denmark, we are lucky enough to have many classical equestrian statues of high quality. Few people are aware of these special works of art and their very special history. In the following, we try to make up for this by going through each individual equestrian statue in Copenhagen. We find most of them in and around Copenhagen's inner city. The oldest is over 300 years old, the newest is from 1954, and therefore each of them have naturally very different forms of expression.

In addition to the classic equestrian statues, there are several more modern works of art of equines in Copenhagen - especially thanks to a certain generous beer brewer in the town (Carlsberg brewery). They are figures who sit on a horse, but do not tell the traditional story of a historically powerful person, who has earned (rightly or wrongly) to be depicted high on a horseback. These more recent works, which are valid especially for their artistic qualities, are mentioned at the end of this guide, although in somewhat less details.

King Christian V and Kongens Nytorv - background

All the classic equestrian statues in Copenhagen are, with a little good will, within walking distance, from Kongens Nytorv as a starting point. That is why we choose to start at Kongens Nytorv. Here, on this distinguished old square created in the image of autocratic power, stands Denmark's and presumably also Northern Europe's first equestrian statue. Namely that of King Christian V, who ruled as absolute king from 1670-1699.

Frederik III, father of Christian V had, after the disgraceful defeat by the Swedes in 1658-60, almost by a coup introduced autocratic power in 1660, to the great regret of the old nobility. At the same moment King Frederik III died February 9, 1670, his son Christian inherited the throne at the age of 24 and therefore automatically became King Christian V. At a lavish ceremony in the church of Frederiksborg Castle and later also outside Copenhagen Castle, King Christian placed the newly produced costly royal crown on his own head and allowed himself to be anointed by the head of the church. He allowed himself to be celebrated as an autocratic king.

The despotism manifested itself, among other things, in sumptuous parties, gigantic processions and ostentatious buildings and baroque parks. The young Christian experienced several examples of this during a European educational trip a few years before he became king. Among other things, Christian visited the lavish court of the King Louis XIV (King of the Sun) in France. We will come back to that a little later.

Immediately after his accession as absolute king, Christian wanted to mark the absolute power with a much more presentable square than the existing town square at Gammel- and Nytorv, which was anything but ostentatious. The square was to be located just outside the city gate to the east, where Kongens Nytorv is today. Until now, under Frederik III and before him, the area had been used for a little bit of everything, e.g. landfill and military training ground. The place was also for many years a place of execution with as many as 3 gallows.

The King's Square - Place Royale

The king called the new square "Place Royale", probably inspired by the Place Royale (later: Place des Vosges) in Paris, which the king must have seen during his visit to the King of the Sun in 1662. As in Paris, Copenhagen's new distinguished square was later in 1688 provided with an impressive equestrian statue of the king himself, set in an oval baroque park bordered by two rows of elm trees.

Christian V wanted an elegant square, where the common people could stroll and enjoy the sight of their king in the form of an elegant equestrian statue. The time was not for a popular square for public entertainment in the form of jousting and other merriment, as the people had previously experienced on Amager Torv and Gammel Torv and other old squares in the town.

Place Royale, the King's Square, as the Square looked around 1735.

Copy from The Danish Vitruvius by Lauritz de Thurah (The Royale Library)

After Christian V's time, the square has undergone many changes. Under King Frederik V, the square was completely cleared and paved in the 1700`s and primarily used as an exercise ground as earlier. However, the equestrian statue was allowed to remain. In the late 1800s, the oval square - called Krinsen - was recreated, and the trees were allowed to grow tall and dense. The Roman imperator no longer seemed so dominant - the time of absolute monarchy was over!

Today (2021), after 10 years of construction chaos with the establishment of an underground metro, the square is now largely designed as the original square from Christian V's time. As we can see, it consists of a small oval park with the statue in the center surrounded by two rows of linden trees.

All in a somewhat more subdued form compared to the original park. In winter, an ice-skating rink is established on the path around the park, with free admission for all. The place of autocratic monarchy has now become common recreation ground!

Kongens Nytorv anno 2021 (Kings New Square)

The scene around the big royal square is set, now, it is time to return to the 1680´s to hear more about the horse and its rider - his royal majesty King Christian V.

The Equestrian Statue of King Christian V on Kongens Nytorv from 1688

King Christian V as roman imperator in full armor. From 1688.

Let's take a closer look at the statue. Take a walk around the small and well-kept park, to get a closer look at the serious gentleman on the horse in the middle of the ground. He looks really impressive, kitted out like a Roman emperor, with armor, helmet and sword, without saddle and stirrups, and with bare toes in flat sandals - all Marcus Aurelius style!

Christian V ruled over the twin kingdoms Denmark and Norway in the period 1670-1699. He was the first real autocratic king after his father Frederik III, who had the autocracy introduced by a coup in 1660. As we have already heard, there was no one living person above the autocratic king, so no one else was big enough to put the royal crown on his head but himself! The kingship was divine, and the king was God's representative here on earth - nothing less!

About the life of King Christian V

Christian did not however, become a Sun King like his role model in France, Louis XIV. He was sparsely educated, and his father did not involve him in state affairs, while there was time. He was moderately gifted, yet he possessed much common sense, diligence and courage. He was strongly attracted to outdoor life, including parforce hunting, which King Louis XIV in France had shown him. He also appreciated company with common people of both sexes.

Much later the parforce hunting was to prove fatal for himself, when he met an attached red deer in the royal hunting ground, Dyrehaven. The encounter with the deer weakened him so seriously, that he died the following year in 1699.

At the age of 15, as previously mentioned, his father Frederik III sent him on a year-long educational journey to different countries in southern Europe, which included, among other things, a visit to the court of the young Louis XIV in France as already mentioned.

Here he got a taste for the most extravagant aspects of the emerging autocracy, with lavish parties and performances and ostentatious castles, parks and squares to support the greatness and power of the autocracy.

Here he also saw the equestrian statue of Louis XIII!

Statue of Louis XIII, erected in 1639 on the Place Royale in Paris (Place des Voeges). The horse was originally intended for another rider!

The horse's pose is like that of the Marcus Aurelius statue, only mirrored! During the French Revolution, the statue was melted down to make cannons!

A few years later, in 1667 at the age of 21, crown prince Christian married princess Sophie Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, with whom he had 8 children. With his mistress Sophie Amalie Moth, Countess of Samsø (a title she naturally got from the king very quickly) he had 3 "natural" children, called Gyldenløverne (the Golden Lions) after their surname. It was a naming tradition that Christian IV founded, when he strongly needed this creative construction for his many children (about 23!), of which 5 was “Golden Lions”!