Thorvaldsens Museum

Thorvaldsens Museum stands at Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2 on the islet of Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, beside Christiansborg Palace. Opened in 1848, it was the first purpose-built museum in Denmark and holds the work and personal collection of the neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who spent much of his career in Rome before returning to Copenhagen as a national hero. The building, designed by Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll, is an unusual combination of Greek and Egyptian styles, with an exterior painted in warm yellow tones and decorated with a frieze showing Thorvaldsen's homecoming. Inside, the rooms are arranged around a courtyard, and the walls and ceilings are painted in rich colours that contrast with the white marble sculptures. The ground floor displays many of Thorvaldsen's plaster models and finished marble works, including statues of Jason, Christ and the Apostles, reliefs on mythological themes and portrait busts. The upper floor shows his collection of antiquities, paintings and drawings, as well as personal items. A visit typically lasts one to one and a half hours, and it is a calm place with fewer crowds than larger museums. The quietest times are weekday afternoons, while weekends see more visitors. Guided tours and audio guides add context about the sculptor and the building, and the museum shop sells catalogues and gifts. The courtyard garden, with Thorvaldsen's tomb at its centre, is a peaceful place to pause. The museum is near the National Museum and Christiansborg, so it fits neatly into a morning on Slotsholmen. Closed Mondays, it is open Tuesday to Sunday.