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by "a spire w h ich in m y yo u th I saw in Rome on
the so-called Chiesa della Sapienza (S. Ivo )". A t the top
the Saviour stands on the globe, and the p lacin g o f this
sculpture is the direct m otivation for the draw in g w hich at
the bottom o f the cartouche bears the inscription: " V ie w
of the church and tow er o f O u r Saviour. O n w h ich a state
ly and precious spire w as placed 17 4 9 -5 0 . In accordance
with the most gracious decree and comm and of the high
and mighty K ing Frederich the Fifth. M ost h um b ly offered
Your Royal M ajesty A p ril 27th, 175 0 , on w h ich d ay the
sculpture of O u r S aviou r w as placed on the v ery top of
the spire. Y our M ajesty's m ost hum ble and lo yal subject,
Laurids de Thu rah." The ro ofin g o f the spire w as finished
in August 1752 , but b y then the vases w h ich can be seen
on the banister, had been given up.
Reproduced p. 47.
62
AM ALIENBORG A N D T O LD B O D G A D E 1 7 5 1
The big building on the right is m erchant N iels A agesen 's
double house, 22-24 Am aliegad e, o f w h ich one h alf still
exists in rebuilt shape. To the left o f the house the still
unfilled canal can be seen, bordering on the Am alienborg
Gardens and the drill ground (see cat. no. 48). Between
the trees and the hoardin g on the left is Toldbodgade, and
behind that the m erchants' storage yards.
63
THE M OLTKE H OU SE 1 7 5 1
It it rare to see pictures o f houses being built. From the
175°s, however, there exists a series o f sketches b y land
cadets, depicting the construction process in the Frede-
riksstad. The cadets attended classes at the college in Bred-
gade and consequently w itnessed the rise o f a part o f the
city right outside their door. T his is a w ater colour o f the
Moltke House behind the boardin g; the ground floor has
been finished, and a w ood en scaffold show s that the
next storey is being built. In order to demonstrate his
talent the artist illu sio n istically placed the v iew on a
sheet covering an engravin g depicting a genre piece.
Bruun made a draw ing of the square w ith the changing of
the guard w h ich was "lined up every morning at 9
o'clock". W hen in 1749 the Frederiksstad was laid out, the
drill ground was removed to Kongens N ytorv (the K ing's
new square), w hich resulted in the levelleling of the gar
dens and Krinsen. N ow that the trees are gone, the build
ings can be seen more clearly than before (see cat. nos. 46
and 47). To the left we have Gjethuset and beside it the
recently erected Danske Komediehus (the D anish p la y
house) built b y Eigtved 1748. The large house in the back
ground on the left (8) belonged to dowager Countess H ol
stein, w hile the house adjoining it was owned b y the mer
chant Søren Jørgensen, who had it built 173 6 -3 7. The
street leading into the picture (9) is Lille Kongensgade.
Reproduced p. 49.
64
KONGENS NYTORV 1753
65
THE D O C K OF CH R IST IAN SH AVN 1753
The dock is seen from a pier on Gammelholm where the
R oyal barge lies, ready to put to sea. It is clearly a
ceremonious occasion which is depicted. The artist has
taken great care to show us the buildings and ships, de
corated w ith large banners. In the centre the warship, Fre-
dericus Quintus, shortly before it was launched on N o
vem ber 24th, 1753. The huge beautifully decorated stern
dom inates the picture, and the sweeping p lay of lines of
the hull fills out the dock. A lot of details are included:
the entrance in the background, Thurah's new spire on
V o r Frelsers kirke (the Church of O ur Saviour), and the
likew ise recently built A siatic Com pany's warehouse be
sides some smaller characteristic buildings whose accu
rately reproduced colours tell us a great deal about the
m ilieu of Christianshavn.
66
COPENHAGEN FROM THE SEA 1754
This somewhat worn, but beautiful, coloured view is taken
from "th e sea where the Royal Guard ship lies." That is,
119