Carl Christian Andersen

Sotheby's, New York, October 24, 1989, lot 325, illustrated
Private collection
Sotheby's, New York, 24 April  2009, lot 113

Charlottenbrog, Denmark, 1885, no. 18

The Christianborg Palace, on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, bears witness to transitions in both Danish politics and its representation in architectural styles, largely the result of two serious fires. In 1660, Denmark became an absolute monarchy, and the Kings found the previous royal residence, the Castle of Copenhagen, an unsuitable expression of their power. In 1736, the Castle was torn down and the Christiansborg Palace, an elaborate baroque structure with four wings, was built in its place. In 1794, the main wing of the Palace caught fire and the majority of the structure and its church were destroyed.  As shown in Andersen's composition, the second Christiansborg Palace, built from 1806-1828, possessed a more severe classical style popular at the time.  This incarnation of the Palace became the center of Denmark's transition from monarchy to democracy: upon the adoption of the constitution, the King provided room in the palace for the country's newly formed Rigsdag (Parliament) in 1850. In October 1884, the second Christiansborg Palace was burned in the midst of a serious crisis in Danish politics.   Because neither the Venstre (the Left) nor the Højre (the Right) could agree to a reconstruction plan, the Palace was left in ruins for twenty years.  The present work shows the smoke-stained Palace exterior as citizens walk about in the midst of their daily routines. As such, Anderson's composition was an important reminder to his countrymen of the need for the building's reconstruction allowing it to remain an important landmark in Danish history.