Glyptoteket

Posted on by Stephen Edwards

Copenhagen, Denmark

If you were a rich entrepreneur of the nation’s largest brewery, how would you spend your fortune? If you were Carl Jacobsen, the owner of the Carlsberg Brewery, you would choose to devote most of your fortune to the arts. Jacobsen’s fortune was used to acquire the majority of the collection for the Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket, which has become one of the most significant art collections not only in Denmark but also in Europe.

‘Mother Denmark‘ by Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann is considered one of the most patriotic Danish emblems. Jerichau-Baumann painted Mother Denmark after the Battle of Isted, an 1851 battle in which the Danes won a major victory against Schleswig-Holstein. Draped in a Danish flag, wearing traditional dress, adorned with Viking jewelry, and carrying a Viking sword, the blonde Mother Denmark is considered the female personification of the country.

Patrons enter the museum through the winter garden. The winter garden features palm trees, Greek and Roman statues, and a cafeteria, all under a glass structure that makes quite an entrance for an art museum. In Rick Steves’s Copenhagen & The Best of Denmark travel guide, he explained that the museum’s designers felt that practical Danes would be more interested in the garden than in the sculptures. While we were visiting on a sunny May day, I had spent enough time in Europe during the winter to empathize with this allure.

The entrance is quite striking and brought back memories of my interior plants class as an undergraduate student. It is always great to see style combined with the income needed to create such an elaborate structure successfully.

The museum’s collection is outstanding, and it is no surprise that Carl Jacobsen almost spent the entire family fortune to acquire it, which includes Greek and Roman Statues, Etruscan Artifacts, Egyptian Mummies, and some of the best art by French and Danish artists. The museum divides the art into these categories, making it very convenient to find specific artists or genres.

While it is great for museum goers to have access to Egyptian mummies across the world, it does remain quite questionable about how all of these treasures left Egypt in the 19th century.

If you plan to go, do so before 2028; otherwise, you may have to wait a few years. The museum is planning a major restoration, which will see the museum close for a complete renovation of the structure. The newly updated museum will improve accessibility for its patrons and present the artwork in an engaging way for modern audiences. The museum plans to offer parts of its collection in various ways while it is closed to the public. The museum building has accessibility issues, with random stairways and a small elevator tucked away in the gift shop. As crowds visiting the museum increase, it is advisable to improve accessibility in and out of the structure, and I appreciate the museum’s forward-thinking approach as it prepares to serve future generations.

I’ve always been a fan of Claude Monet, and his painting, ‘Windmill and Boats near Zaandam, Holland,’ could have easily been reproduced today, though with more modern boats on the water and buildings near the windmills.
When I was a child, we played a board game titled ‘Clue Master Detective,’ which was very similar to the classic Clue game, but with more rooms, more weapons, and more characters. One of the suspects, Monsieur Alphonse Brunette, had a quote in the rules: “Monet…Manet…What is zee difference?” Here the difference is quite striking, as Manet painted the ‘Execution of Emperor Maximilian.’ Maximilian was only on the Mexican throne for three years before he was executed. He probably would not have been in power that long, but the United States was busy fighting the Civil War and could not address the French meddling in our southern neighbors’ affairs.

To visit the museum, we entered using the Official Copenhagen Card. If you go without the card, it is advisable to purchase tickets online in advance to save 10% on entry. Current costs as of 2026 are 150 (135) DKK for adults, 120 (108) DKK for students or adults under 27, and free admission for children under 18.

William Marstrand’s ‘Italian Osteria Scene. Girl Welcoming a Person Entering’ was painted when the Danish artist was living in Italy in 1847. The daughters seem very inviting to the person coming through the door, while their mother gently sleeps.

I could have easily lingered longer in the museum, but we did see the highlights before we moved on to our next Copenhagen location. For art lovers, fans of Egyptian history, and of sculptures, the Glyptoteket is a must-see destination on a European trip. Jacobsen’s acquired collection is fantastic in how well it all comes together in the museum. I’m excited for the upcoming renovation, as the building itself is a work of art that enhances the experience for all patrons.

Bertel Thorvaldsen is arguably Denmark’s most important sculptor, so it is appropriate that one of Denmark’s richest men was able to secure ‘The Three Graces’ for the Glyptoteket. Although Thorvaldsen was born and died in Copenhagen, he spent most of his life in Italy, and it was easy to see Italian influence on his work.
Most people have egos, but it was good to see that Carl Jacobsen wanted to be remembered through his gifts to the city. Besides the Glyptoteket, Jacobsen also gifted the world-famous ‘Little Mermaid’ statue to the city. Here he is carved with his first wife, Ottilia.