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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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