Charlottenborg Palace
Encyclopedia
Charlottenborg Palace is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv
and Nyhavn
in Copenhagen
, Denmark
. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts since its foundation in 1754. Several other institutions of the Danish art world are also based at Charlottenborg, which today also serves as an exhibition space for art exhibitions.
to his half brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve on 22 Marts 1669 in connection with the establishment of Kongens Nytorv
. Gyldenløve built his new mansion from 1672 to 1683 as the first building on the new square.
The main wing and two lateral wings were built from 1672 to 1677, probably under the architect Ewert Janssen
. In 1783 mansion was extended with a rear, fourth wing was designed by Lambert van Haven
. The bricks used were brought from Kalø Castle in Jutland
which Gyldenløve owned and had pulled down.
In his old age, the large mansion became too big for Gyldenløve who sold it to the dowager queen Charlotte Amalie in 1700, hence the name. Gyldenløve built a new, smaller mansion on the corner of Bredgade
and Dronningens Tværgade
which became known as "Gyldenløve's little mansion", now Moltke's Mansion
, after a later owner, where he lived until his death in 1705.
After the King Christian V´s death in 1699 the Queen Mother
, Charlotte Amalie, purchased the Palace for 50.000 Danish crowns. Hereafter namned Charlottenborg Palace.
When the Queen Downer died in 1714, the åaæace was passed to King Christian VI
. Renovations began in 1736-1737, and its use and users shifted for a period of time. A small theater was constructed and used for various concerts, operas and theatrical performances. The Palace Garden contained the Botanical Garden
between 1778 - 1872.
style but also with some Italian influence. The main wing towards the square has a central risalit flanked by two more pronounced, two-bay corner risalit. All three are topped by ballustrades. The central risalit is decorated with Corinthian pilasters and a Tuscan/Doric portal with balcony The facade has sandstone decorations and window pediments.
The lower rear wing consists of three pavilions. The central pavilion has a Tuscan arcade below, niches with busts above, and a lantern on the copper-covered roof.
with a banguet hall above the main entrance, with access to the balcony, a ground floor with lower ceilings, and a second floors for servants with even lower ones. Ths arrangement became characteristic of mansions and upper-class town houses in the entire 18th century.
In the rear wing, above the arcade, there is a well-preserved domed Baroque room with a splendid stucco ceiling.
Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
and Nyhavn
Nyhavn
Nyhavn is a 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig was a statesman and the leading Norwegian general in the Scanian War, whose Norway-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him...
, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts since its foundation in 1754. Several other institutions of the Danish art world are also based at Charlottenborg, which today also serves as an exhibition space for art exhibitions.
Gyldenløve's Mansion
The site was donated by King Christian VChristian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
to his half brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve on 22 Marts 1669 in connection with the establishment of Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
. Gyldenløve built his new mansion from 1672 to 1683 as the first building on the new square.
The main wing and two lateral wings were built from 1672 to 1677, probably under the architect Ewert Janssen
Ewert Janssen
Ewert Janssen or Evert Janssen was a Danish architect who became a royal masterbuilder in 1668. His greatest achievement was Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen.-Life and achievements:...
. In 1783 mansion was extended with a rear, fourth wing was designed by Lambert van Haven
Lambert van Haven
Lambert van Haven was a Danish architect, master builder and painter. He was born in Bergen, the son of the artist Solomon van Haven who had already succeeded in winning the favour of the Danish monarchy....
. The bricks used were brought from Kalø Castle in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
which Gyldenløve owned and had pulled down.
In his old age, the large mansion became too big for Gyldenløve who sold it to the dowager queen Charlotte Amalie in 1700, hence the name. Gyldenløve built a new, smaller mansion on the corner of Bredgade
Bredgade
Bredgade is one of the most prominent streets in Copenhagen, Denmark. Running in a straight line from Kongens Nytorv for just under one kilometre to the intersection of Esplanaden and Grønningen, it is one of the major streets in Frederiksstaden, a Rococo district laid out in the middle of the...
and Dronningens Tværgade
Dronningens Tværgade
Dronningens Tværgade is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which runs from Bredgade to Rosenborg Castle Garden. With the Odd Fellows Mansion on Bredgade and the central pavilions of the east fringe of the castle garden located at each their end, the street has axial qualities...
which became known as "Gyldenløve's little mansion", now Moltke's Mansion
Moltke's Mansion
The Moltke's Mansion is a town mansion on the corner of Bredgade and Dronningens Tværgade in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of several town mansions in Frederiksstaden, although it actually predates the neighbourhood by half a century...
, after a later owner, where he lived until his death in 1705.
After the King Christian V´s death in 1699 the Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
, Charlotte Amalie, purchased the Palace for 50.000 Danish crowns. Hereafter namned Charlottenborg Palace.
When the Queen Downer died in 1714, the åaæace was passed to King Christian VI
Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746.He was the son of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He married Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and fathered Frederick V.-The reign and personality of Christian VI:To posterity Christian...
. Renovations began in 1736-1737, and its use and users shifted for a period of time. A small theater was constructed and used for various concerts, operas and theatrical performances. The Palace Garden contained the Botanical Garden
University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden , usually referred to simply as Copenhagen Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
between 1778 - 1872.
The Royal Danish Academy of Arts
In 1701, the old Academy of Arts began its activities in the Palace. The small school slowly grew and was finally formally inaugurated in the Charlottenborg Palace on March 31, 1754. In 1787, the ownership of the Palace was transferred to The Royal Danish Academy of Art. The Academy still occupies the Palace.Architecture
Charlottenborg is a four-winged, three-storey building designed in the Dutch BaroqueBaroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style but also with some Italian influence. The main wing towards the square has a central risalit flanked by two more pronounced, two-bay corner risalit. All three are topped by ballustrades. The central risalit is decorated with Corinthian pilasters and a Tuscan/Doric portal with balcony The facade has sandstone decorations and window pediments.
The lower rear wing consists of three pavilions. The central pavilion has a Tuscan arcade below, niches with busts above, and a lantern on the copper-covered roof.
Interior
The floor plan is remniscient of French castles. It has a piano nobilePiano nobile
The piano nobile is the principal floor of a large house, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture...
with a banguet hall above the main entrance, with access to the balcony, a ground floor with lower ceilings, and a second floors for servants with even lower ones. Ths arrangement became characteristic of mansions and upper-class town houses in the entire 18th century.
In the rear wing, above the arcade, there is a well-preserved domed Baroque room with a splendid stucco ceiling.
Contemporary activities
- Royal Danish Academy of ArtRoyal Danish Academy of ArtThe Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts has provided a practice-oriented complement to the scholarly investigation of the arts carried out at Danish universities for more than 250 years, playing a crucial part in the development of the distinctive tradition of the art of Denmark.- History :The Royal...
- Kunsthal CharlottenborgKunsthal CharlottenborgKunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen is the official exhibition gallery of the Royal Danish Academy of Art. The palatial residence was constructed in 1672–83 for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, in the Baroque architectural idiom shared by Holland, England and Denmark.The dowager queen Charlotte Amalie...
, Exhibition Hall - Danmarks Kunstbibliotek, The Art Library of Denmark