A private villa's winter garden became a world-class museum
In short: In 1882, Carl Jacobsen's private villa underwent an extension that changed Danish art history forever. What began as a personal collection of sculptures and paintings—so numerous they eventually outnumber the plants in his winter garden—evolved into the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a premier institution housing over 10,000 works of art.
The museum's origins are deeply tied to the personal passion of Carl Jacobsen, son of the founder of Carlsberg Breweries. His dedication to art was so intense that by 1885, his 'house museum' had expanded to include 19 galleries. Because the collection expanded so consistently, Jacobsen gifted his whole holdings to Copenhagen and the Danish State on 8 March 1888, provided they supplied an appropriate exhibition venue.
The museum's architecture reflects this layered history. The Dahlerup Wing, the oldest section, is a lavish historicist building featuring red brick and Venetian renaissance-style granite columns. It was later joined by the neo-classical Kampmann Wing and a minimalistic infill known as the Henning Larsen Wing, built in a former inner courtyard in 1996. These structures are connected by a central winter garden, characterized by a copper and wrought iron dome, mosaic floors, and tall palms.
Today, the Glyptotek is a multifaceted institution. Its primary focus is antique sculpture from Mediterranean cultures, including Egypt, Rome, and Greece. The Egyptian collection alone contains more than 1,900 pieces, with some dating back to 3000 BCE. Beyond antiquities, the museum holds one of the world's most significant collections of Auguste Rodin's works and a complete collection of bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas. It also serves as a cultural hub, hosting everything from classical concerts in its auditorium to official banquets, such as the certification of a Polio-free Europe on 21 June 2002.
The museum's breadth is immense, spanning millennia and diverse cultures. The Near Eastern Collection covers a 7,150-year period, with the oldest artifact dating to 6500 BCE. From the Danish Golden Age to French Impressionists like Monet and Renoir, the Glyptotek remains a vital repository of human achievement.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
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