KøbenhanskeMotiver_1587-1807

Introduction

"On land we see the city. On account of the flatness, not much can be seen from far away, except some of the tallest spires. But when on Valby Hill one sees it from the distance of one and a half miles, the eye first meets the lower suburbs at Vester- and Nørreport (the western and northern gates), developed with a pleasant mixture of buildings, gardens, and avenues. Then follows the city itself with its ramparts and palaces surrounded by the sea, altogether a very rich and splendid view ." Thus Erik Pontoppidan begins his description of Copenhagen in 1764, and thus the city appeared to the many people approaching the city along the highways. As is well-known the Danish countryside is flat, but from Valby Hill it was possible to take in the whole city with one look, and innumerable are the artists who throughout the times have rendered this panorama. O f course the view under­ went many changes in the course of the 220 years that this exhibition covers. Wars and catastrophai fires did not fail to leave marks on the city. However, rebuildings helped to remedy the destructions, and energetic builders contributed to the new characteristics of the physiognomy of the city. Our oldest known reproduction of Copenhagen is the double view from Civitates orbis terrarum 1587; it is based upon a competent artist's sketch and is a very reliable rendering of the late medieval town with its wall, towering spires, and low, half-timbered buildings. With the accession to the Throne of Christian IV in 1596 a new era was initiated: the fortifications were modernized with bastions that were to resist the firing of cannons, and near the Castle an enormous naval arsenal was built, which became well protected by the construction of Christians­ havn on the other side of the harbour entrance. An even more extensive expansion came with the building of Ny-København towards the northeast, where the entire area between the present Gothersgade and the Citadel was reclaimed. The King was also a dynamical promoter of various projects: the spire of Blatarn (the blue tower), the Town Hall, the Holmens and Trinitatis Churches, Rundetårn (the round tower), the Stock Exchange, Rosenborg Castle, and Nyboder are the results of his activities. During the reign of his son, Frederik III, the Swedes besieged the city, which, it is true, resisted many attacks, but it was obvious that the fortifications were not satisfactory. Immediately after the establishment of absolutism improve­

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