Scan Magazine
Culture
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Den Hirschsprungske Samling
Exhibition: Anna Syberg - The Beauty of the Moment, Photo: The Hirschsprung Collection
Gallery Experience of the Month, Denmark
A piece of Danish art history The Hirschsprung Collection houses tobacco manufacturer and art collector Heinrich Hirschsprung and his wife Pauline’s private collection of Danish art. With its idyllic location in Østre Anlæg park, its cosy, home-like atmosphere and its impressive art collection, the museum should be on your cultural itinerary when visiting Copenhagen. By Heidi Kokborg
Nestled in the beautiful Østre Anlæg park close to cafés, metro stations and the Botanical Garden, The Hirschsprung Collection enjoys a perfect location. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1911 and houses the private art collection of Heinrich Hirschsprung (1836-1908) and his wife Pauline (1845-1912). “The couple donated their collection of Danish art to the Danish nation. Since day one the museum has been decorated with furnishings from artists’ homes to create a cosy, almost home-like atmosphere. Many visitors think the museum was once the home of the Hirschsprung 88 |
Issue 153
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April 2023
family; however, that is not the case. The couple had the museum specifically built to house their art collection,” explains Gertrud Oelsner, museum director at The Hirschsprung Collection. Heinrich and Pauline Hirschsprung were both art enthusiasts. Over the years they built an extraordinary collection of Danish art from the 19th and early 20th century; from the Danish Golden Age of art to the Skagen painters and the Symbolists. The collection includes major masterpieces by artists such as C.W. Eckersberg, Christen Købke, Anna Ancher, P.S. Krøyer, Bertha Wegmann and Vilhelm Hammershøi.
“It is the biggest collection of Skagen art outside Skagen. If you love P.S. Krøyer’s paintings, then a visit to the museum is a must. The collection also includes 30,000 letters from artists written in the 19th century. In the collection you will also find several art sketches and smaller paintings made for private homes. It’s a chance to get very close to the artists and almost get to know them,” says Oelsner. Anna Syberg – capturing the beauty of the moment Until 21 May 2023 you can experience the very special exhibition Anna Syberg – The Beauty of the Moment. Anna Syberg was a key figure in the Funen’s artists’ colony in the late 1800s. Syberg found her subject matter in flowers and plants, in the vases and pots around her home, in her garden and out in nature. With her distinctive watercolours, she revitalised floral painting. “Her paintings capture the