Statens Museum for Kunst

Statens Museum for Kunst (English: The National Gallery) is the Danish national gallery located in Copenhagen. The museum was designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup and G.E.W. Møller and built 1889-96 in a Historicist Italian Renaissance revival style.

In autumn 1998, an extension was opened designed by the architects Anna Maria Indrio and Mads Møller from Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Møller. This new building was constructed in the park behind the original building and is connected to it by a glass-covered walkway, 'the street of sculptures'. The 'street' stretches along the full length of the museum, and within it concerts and dance performances are held.

Seven hundred years of art - from the early Renaissance up to the present day From the Kings Kunstkammer to a Public Museum The museum collects, registers, maintains, researches in and handles Danish and foreign art dating from the 14th Century till the present day, mostly with their origins in western culture circles. As far as the Danish art is concerned the museum must invest in and maintain representative collections.

The museum's collections constitute almost 9,000 paintings and sculptures, approx. 300,000 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. The major part of the museum's older collections comes from the art chambers of Danish kings.

The museum's collections are presented in both new and old surroundings. In November 1998 Statens Museum for Kunst re-opened after completing rebuilding and renovation. The old and new buildings are connected by one large-scale amalgamation between past and present. Facing the front is the old building and from Østre Anlæg is a new and modern building - seen from the side is a glass-covered street that connects the old and new buildings.

The older pieces of art of foreign and Danish origin are presented in the 103 years old building which was designed by architect Jens Vilhelm Dahlerup. This selection includes works by Bloemart, Jordaens, Gijsbrechts, Abildgaard, Jens Juel and L.A. Ring, among others. In the new extension, designed by architect Anna Maria Indrio the newer pieces and completely modern art are arranged, showing works by Danish and Foreign artists such as Matisse, Braque, Weie, Kirkeby, Smithson.

 

Original text, photo: Wikipedia