Albertina Foundation (Denmark)


The Albertina Foundation was a philanthropic foundation created by Carl Jacobsen in 1879 with the aim of installing sculpture in the public realm, particularly in the parks, of Copenhagen, Denmark. The artworks include both casts of classical Roman and Greek statues and works by contemporary artists. The foundation is named after Bertel Thorvaldsen, who in Italy went by the name of Alberto.

History

The foundation was established on 19 October 1879. It was administrated by a board consisting of the founder and two other members appointed by the City Council and the Art Academy respectively. From the beginning, there were disagreements on the board as to what artworks to acquire. Jacobsen wanted contemporary French art while Ferdinand Meldahl, who represented the City Council, leaned towards Danish artists. As a compromise, 14 of the 15 sculptures which the foundation acquired during the first ten years of its existence were castings of classical works.
When Carl Jacobsen died in 1914, his oldest son, Holger Jacobsen, took over his seat on the board. Gradually, due to inflation, acquisitions dwindled. The foundation was finally dissolved on 19 November 2002, after 123 years of operations. The last funds were spent on Jørn Larsen's water feature on Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads in front of Thorvaldsens Museum.

List of statues

YearImageTitleLocationSculptorDateSource
1889Dying GaulØrsted ParkUnknown
1880Silenus with the Infant BacchusØrsted ParkEfter Lysippos4th century BC
1882Jeanne d'Arc at Domrémy Listening to the Heavenly Voice'Ørsted ParkHenri-Michel-Antoine Chapu1870
1886Satyr with the Infant BacchusØrsted ParkUnknown4th century BC
1886Satyr with CrotalesØrsted ParkUnknownC. 300 BC
1886The GrinderØrsted ParkUnknownC. 250-200 BC
1886Apollo BelvedereØrsted ParkEfter Leochares4th century BC / 1st or 2nd century AD
1886Hermes RestingØrsted ParkUnknown
1886Discus ThrowerValby IdtrætsparkUnknown5th century BC
1887Apollo Sauroctonos Axel Salto1856
1979Cupulate FruitFiolstræde/DyrkøbJean Arp1960
1988Bird with YoungKildevældsparkenSonja Ferlov Mancoba1935
1992Three shapesNikolaj PladsBent Sørensen1980s
2002PondBertel Thorvaldsens PladsJørn Larsen2002