Top 10 Remarkable Facts about the National Gallery of Denmark

National Gallery Photo by Steven Lek Wikimedia

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about the National Gallery of Denmark

The National Gallery of Denmark (Danish: Statens Museum for Kunst, also known as “SMK”, literally State Museum for Art) is the Danish national gallery, located in the centre of Copenhagen. The collections of the Danish National Gallery originate in the Art Chamber of the Danish monarchs.

The museum collects, registers, maintains, researches and handles Danish and foreign art dating from the 14th century to the present day. Let’s take a look at some of the most remarkable facts about it;

1.The original museum building was designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup and G.E.W. Moller

The original museum building was designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup and G.E.W. Moller and built 1889–1896 in a Historicist Italian Renaissance revival style.Towards the back of the museum is a large modern extension designed by the architects Anna Maria Indrio and Mads Moller from Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Moller.

The extension was erected in 1998 to house the extensive modern art collection. The two buildings are connected by a glass panelled ‘Street of Sculptures’ walkway and theatre which stretches the entire length of the museum and looks out onto the Ostre Anlag park. Talks, concerts and installations are all held in this area.

2.The Museum has an unrivalled collection of paintings from the Danish Golden Age

Some of the artwork and paintings in the museum Photo by Daderot Wikimedia

During the 19th century the works were almost exclusively by Danish artists, and for this reason the Museum has an unrivalled collection of paintings from the so-called Danish Golden Age.

That the country was able to produce pictures of high artistic quality was something new, and a consequence of the establishment of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1754.More recently, the collection has been influenced by generous donations and long-term loans. 

3.The museum’s collections constitute almost 9,000 paintings and sculptures

The museum’s collections constitute almost 9,000 paintings and sculptures, approximately 240,000 works of art on paper as well as more than 2,600 plaster casts of figures from ancient times, the middle-ages and the Renaissance.

Most of the older objects come from the Danish royal collection. Approximately 40,000 pieces from the collections are expected to be made available online by 2020.

4.There are several types of collections in the museum

A portrait of Christ in the National Gallery Photo by Andrea Mantegna Wikimedia

There are several types of collections in the museum including;1.European Art 1300–1800 which is a comprehensive collection of art over the 500-year period, featuring works by Mantegna, Cranach, Titian, Rubens and Rembrandt. 2.Danish and Nordic Art 1750-1900 which charts Scandinavian art from the beginnings of Danish painting through the ‘Golden Age’ to the birth of Modernism. 

Others include; French Art 1900–1930,Danish and International Art After 1900,The Royal Collection of Graphic Art and The Royal Cast Collection which is held at the West India Warehouse, Toldbodgade 40, between The Little Mermaid and Nyhavn in Copenhagen.

5.The Royal Cast collection in the museum consists of over 2000 naked plaster casts of statues

It consists of over 2,000 naked plaster casts of statues and reliefs from collections, museums, temples, churches, and public places throughout the world, from antiquity to the Renaissance. The Royal Cast Collection is only open for special events.

The art was first put on display in 1895 with the intention of edifying visitors about the progression of representations of the human form over time in parallel with growing social, political and aesthetic awareness in the Western world.

6.National Gallery has several major works

National Gallery has several major works including; 35 pairs by Gitte Villesen, 5×5, 1992 by Kirsten Ortwed, A Beech Wood by P. C. Skovgaard, A funeral 1883 by Frants Henningsen, A funeral 1891 by Anna Rancher and A group of Danish Artists in Rome, 1837 by Constatin Hansen. 

Others include;A Mountain Climber, 1912 by J. F. Willumsen, A Romantic Picture , 1965 by Per Kirkeby, Abduction on a Unicorn, 1516 by Albrecht Surer, Accumulation, 1938 by Egill Jacobsen, After the storm, 1817 by  Casper David Friedrich and many more. 

7.No other museum in Denmark shows such a rich and varied selection of art than it

Walkway between new and old building in National Gallery of Denmark Photo by Helen Ilus Wikimedia

No other museum in Denmark shows such a rich and varied selection of art – from the European classics of the Renaissance to the overwhelming diversity of modern and contemporary art.Its selection is one of the most historical and shares its culture to its clients. 

Here you will find gems by artists such as Mantegna, Nolde, Anna Ancher, Derain, Rubens, Matisse, Hammershøi, Munch, Abramovic, Danh Vo and Elmgreen & Dragset. It’s a place to enjoy the grand masters of art history along with cutting-edge contemporary artists and the rising stars of the art scene. 

8.The museum also offers guided guided tours, art talks, concerts and workshops

Along with the art and special exhibitions hosted by SMK, visitors can also get guided tours, attend performances, art talks, concerts, workshops, and much more.In addition to being an art museum, SMK is also an authorized tourist information point with multilingual and friendly staff ready to help you make the most of your Copenhagen stay.

SMK also has a cafe, Kafeteria, where you can take a break from the exhibitions and enjoy your breakfast or lunch or maybe just a coffee or a glass of wine. The cafe has its own bakery and is especially known for its delicious homemade cakes. 

9.There are several hotels and restaurants near it 

There are several hotels and restaurants near it including; Modern 4 Room apartment with big terrace (0.18 mi), City Apartment in Kopenhagen mit 1 Schlafzimmern 2 Schlafplatzen (0.20 mi), Hotel d’Angleterre (0.60 mi), Hotel Kong Arthur (0.59 mi) and Rye115 Hotel (0.64 mi). 

The restaurants near it include;Kafeteria which is 0.02 miles away, Restaurant Under Uret (0.15 mi), Aamanns Deli & Take Away (0.17 mi) Aamanns Etablissement (0.17 mi) and Blue Bike Cafe (0.15 mi). 

10.The museum is open in different times for different days

The museum is open in different times for different days. It is open on Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 6 pm, Wednesday from 10 am to 8pm and closed on Monday. The prices are also Adult-120 DKK, Child (0-17)-free, Adult under 27-95 DKK and Adult plus Child-100 DKK. 

The museum is one of the most visited sites in Denmark and one of the most sought after places. It is one of the best historical sites and among the best attractions in Copenhagen. The museum has centuries of art from not only Denmark but many other countries is displayed in a great edifice from 1896.