Christiansborg Palace (1st)
Encyclopedia
The first Christiansborg Palace was built in Copenhagen
by Christian VI of Denmark
as a new main residence for the Danish monarch to replace the antiquated Copenhagen Castle
which had assumed a monstrous appearance and started to crumble after several extensions. It was constructed on Slotsholmen
, on the site where its predecessor had stood, and completed around 1745.
The palace only existed for just under half a century since it was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1794. The surviving parts, which included the show grounds, the court theatre and the Marble Bridge with its two pavilions, were incorporated into the second Christiansborg Palace
which succeeded it. These parts also survived the fire of 1884 which destroyed the second palace and are now part of the present day Christiansborg Palace
which houses both the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court and Prime Minister's Office.
began in 1731 to make room for the new palace which was named Christiansborg after its founder. The king commissioned architect Elias David Häusser
to build the new palace.
Constructuion of the magnificent new palace began in 1733. From 1736 the younger architects Lauritz de Thurah
and Nicolai Eigtved
were put in charge of designing the interior. In 1738 a palace commission was set up to supervise the construction. Work only progressed slowly due to lack of funds and on several occasions threatened to come to a complete standstill. However by 1740 the main wing was partially ready for use and Christian VI took up residence at a grandiose ceremony on 26 November 1740.
When Häusser retired from the project in 1742, Eigtved was charged with completing the palace. This happened in 1745. The palace commission was dissolved on 22 February 1745.
The total costs of the new palace were 2.7 million Rigsdaler
, the equivalent to half of the state's annual income.
The main approach to the palace was across the still existing Marble Bridge, today located on the rear side of pressent day Christiansborg, and the show grounds.
The interior was also in Rococo style and lavishly decorated. Work on producing artworks and decorations for the palace continued throughout the reign of Frederick V
, and the Grand Hall, which was designed by Nicolas-Henri Jardin
, was not inaugurated until 10 November 1766 by Christian VII
. Among the artists who had their breakthrough with their contributions to the palace are the painters Nikolaj Abildgaard
and Hendrick Krock
and the sculptors Johannes Wiedewelt
, Simon Stanley
and Johan Mandelberg
.
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...
by Christian VI of Denmark
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...
as a new main residence for the Danish monarch to replace the antiquated Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle was a castle on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, built in the late 14th century at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace....
which had assumed a monstrous appearance and started to crumble after several extensions. It was constructed on Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen is an island in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, and part of Copenhagen Inner City. Bishop Absalon constructed the city's first castle on the island in 1166-67 at the site where Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament lies today...
, on the site where its predecessor had stood, and completed around 1745.
The palace only existed for just under half a century since it was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1794. The surviving parts, which included the show grounds, the court theatre and the Marble Bridge with its two pavilions, were incorporated into the second Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace (2nd)
The second Christiansborg Palace was a new main residence for the Danish Monarch built from 1803 to 1828 in Copenhagen as a replacement for the first Christiansborg Palace which had been destroyed by fire in 1794. The new palace was constructed on Slotsholmen, on the ruins of its predecessor, and...
which succeeded it. These parts also survived the fire of 1884 which destroyed the second palace and are now part of the present day Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
which houses both the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court and Prime Minister's Office.
Construction of the new palace
Demolition of the overextended and antiquated Copenhagen CastleCopenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle was a castle on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, built in the late 14th century at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace....
began in 1731 to make room for the new palace which was named Christiansborg after its founder. The king commissioned architect Elias David Häusser
Elias David Häusser
Elias David Häusser was a German-Danish architect working in the Baroque and Rococo styles. He is most known for designing the first Christiansborg Palace which was almost completely destroyed in a fire in 1794...
to build the new palace.
Constructuion of the magnificent new palace began in 1733. From 1736 the younger architects Lauritz de Thurah
Lauritz de Thurah
Laurids Lauridsen de Thurah, known as Lauritz de Thurah , was a Danish architect and architectural writer. He became the most important Danish architect of the late baroque period...
and Nicolai Eigtved
Nicolai Eigtved
Nicolai Eigtved, also known as Niels Eigtved, , Danish architect, introduced and was the leading proponent of the French rococo style in Danish architecture during the 1730s-1740s. He designed and built some of the most prominent buildings of his time, a number of which still stand to this day...
were put in charge of designing the interior. In 1738 a palace commission was set up to supervise the construction. Work only progressed slowly due to lack of funds and on several occasions threatened to come to a complete standstill. However by 1740 the main wing was partially ready for use and Christian VI took up residence at a grandiose ceremony on 26 November 1740.
When Häusser retired from the project in 1742, Eigtved was charged with completing the palace. This happened in 1745. The palace commission was dissolved on 22 February 1745.
The total costs of the new palace were 2.7 million Rigsdaler
Rigsdaler
Rigsdaler is a unit of currency.Rigsdaler may refer to:* Danish rigsdaler* Danish West Indian rigsdaler* Greenlandic rigsdaler* Norwegian rigsdalerSee also* Swedish riksdaler...
, the equivalent to half of the state's annual income.
The fire of 1794
On 26 February 1794, Christiansborg Palace was devastated by a fire. It began in an overheated stove close to the Grand Hall.Architecture and artworks
Overall layout
The palace complex, which was in Rococo style, consisted of a four-winged main building connected to various other buildings, including a court theatre and stables, arranged around large show grounds. There was also an attached chapel located at the site of the pressent-day Christiansborg Chapel.The main approach to the palace was across the still existing Marble Bridge, today located on the rear side of pressent day Christiansborg, and the show grounds.
Main building
The main building stood 36 metres high with a copper-clad roof and an 84 metres high steapled tower located above the main entrance facing the show grounds. The facade was covered in sandstone and lavishly decorated with vases, reliefs, sculptures and ornamental details on cornices and window frames.The interior was also in Rococo style and lavishly decorated. Work on producing artworks and decorations for the palace continued throughout the reign of Frederick V
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
, and the Grand Hall, which was designed by Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Nicolas-Henri Jardin , neoclassical architect, was born in St. Germain des Noyers, Dept. Seine-et-Marne, France, and worked seventeen years in Denmark as an architect to the royal court...
, was not inaugurated until 10 November 1766 by Christian VII
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
. Among the artists who had their breakthrough with their contributions to the palace are the painters Nikolaj Abildgaard
Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard , Danish artist, was born in Copenhagen, the son of Søren Abildgaard, an antiquarian draughtsman of repute, and Anne Margrethe Bastholm.- Training as an artist :...
and Hendrick Krock
Hendrick Krock
Hendrick Krock was a Danish history painter who, from 1706, was the court painter of Frederick IV as well as his successor Christian VI. Along with Benoit Le Coffre set the tone for history painting in Denmark during the 18th century-1720s, having been influenced by the Italian baroque painting he...
and the sculptors Johannes Wiedewelt
Johannes Wiedewelt
Johannes Wiedewelt , Danish neoclassical sculptor, was born in Copenhagen to royal sculptor to the Danish Court, Just Wiedewelt, and his wife Birgitte Lauridsdatter...
, Simon Stanley
Simon Carl Stanley
Simon Carl Stanley was a sculptor and was born of English parents.When he showed as a boy feel like drawing and træskæring, put him apprentice with hofbilledhugger JC Sturmberg...
and Johan Mandelberg
Johan Edvard Mandelberg
Johan Edvard Mandelberg , Swedish-born painter living in Denmark, was born at sea during a voyage between Stockholm and Livland, Sweden.- Mandelberg seeks training:...
.