![Christiansborg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Christiansborg.png)
Nicolai Eigtved, also known as Niels Eigtved (4 June 1701 – 7 June 1754) was a
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
. He introduced and was the leading proponent of the French
rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
or late baroque style in
Danish architecture
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
during the 1730s–1740s. He designed and built some of the most prominent buildings of his time, a number of which still stand to this day. He also played an important role in the establishment of the
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts ( da, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi - Billedkunst Skolerne) has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark.
History
The Royal Dani ...
(''Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi''), and was its first native-born leader.
Youth and early training
He was born Niels Madsen on the farm in the village of Egtved in the parish of Haraldsted on the island of
Zealand
Zealand ( da, Sjælland ) at 7,031 km2 is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020.
It is the 1 ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
to Mads Nielsen and Dorthe Hansdatter. He was trained locally as a gardener, and was promoted to a position at the
Frederiksberg Palace
Frederiksberg Palace ( da, Frederiksberg Slot) is a Baroque residence, located in Frederiksberg, Denmark, adjacent to the Copenhagen Zoo. It commands an impressive view over Frederiksberg Gardens, originally designed as a palace garden in the ...
Gardens ca. 1720. In July 1723 he got an opportunity to travel out of the country as a royal gardening apprentice. He travelled to
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
and
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...
, among other places in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, earned his keep with jobs as a gardener, and learned to speak
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
.
Years in Poland
From 1725 he lived in
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
, where he came to the attention of German architect and draughtsman Colonel
Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann
Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann (1662–1736) was a German master builder and architect who helped to rebuild Dresden after the fire of 1685. His most famous work is the Zwinger Palace.
Life
Pöppelmann was born in Herford in Westphalia on 3 ...
, for whom he worked for several years. Pöppelmann was connected to the
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
-
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
court under
Frederick Augustus I, and got him a position as second lieutenant in the Saxon-Polish Engineer Corps.
Eigtved came into a rich architectural environment, which was influenced by the presence of French immigrants including
Jean de Bodt
Jean de Bodt (1670 – 3 January 1745) was a Baroque architect of the 18th century.
Biography
Bodt was born in Paris to French Huguenot parents, but his father came from Mecklenburg. He studied architecture, but was forced to flee from France a ...
and
Zacharias Longuelune
Zacharias Longuelune (1669 — 30 November 1748) was a French architect and master builder who worked in the second half of his life for the royal court in Dresden. His design style was French Baroque and Classicism.
Longuelune was born in Paris. ...
. Some of Pöppelmann's assignments in those years, on which Eigtved would have probably participated, were
Augustus Bridge
The Augustus Bridge is a bridge in the city of Dresden, in the state Saxony in Germany.
Crossing the river Elbe, the road bridge connects the Innere Neustadt in the north (right bank) with the historic city centre to the south (left bank).
The ...
(''Augustusbruecke'') in Dresden (1728), the extension of the
Japanese Palace (''Japanisches Palais'') in Dresden (1727), drafts for the three-king church in Dresden new city (1723–1739), and a new large lock for the Saxon dynasty (c. 1730).
In 1730 Eigtved was promoted to lieutenant in Engineer Corps, and participated in the building of the ruler's military camp near
Zeithain
Zeithain is a municipality in the district of Meißen, in Saxony, Germany.
Historically, it is known for the Zeithain Encampment (''Zeithainer Zeltlager'' or ''Zeithainer Lustlager''), which was a huge agglomeration of tents and troops, involving ...
. He made excellent military drawings, and became acquainted with Danish statesman General
Poul Vendelbo Løvenørn
Poul Thomsen Vendelbo de Løvenørn, born Poul Thomsen (5 April 1686 – 27 February 1740) was a Danish military officer, diplomat and landowner. He served as Secretary of War and Minister of the Navy in the 1730s and was the owner of Bregentved ...
, who after his return to Denmark interested King
Christian VI
Christian VI (30 November 1699 – 6 August 1746) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746. The eldest surviving son of Frederick IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, he is considered one of Denmark-Norway's more anonymous kings, bu ...
in Eigtved. The King summoned Eigtved to Denmark, and with the title of captain he was dismissed from foreign service.
In service to Denmark
He was made Danish lieutenant in 1732, and Christian VI let Eigtved further educate himself in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
between 1732 and 1735 in civil architecture. On his travel back to Denmark, he stayed and made drawings in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
and
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
, where he became familiar with the rococo style seen in the design of French architect
François de Cuvilliés
François de Cuvilliés, sometimes referred to as ''the Elder'' (23 October 1695, Soignies, Hainaut14 April 1768, Munich), was a Belgian-born Bavarian decorative designer and architect. He was instrumental in bringing the Rococo style to the Witt ...
for the newly built
Amalienburg Palace near Nymphenburg
Eigtved returned to Denmark in 1735 after twelve years' absence. Building construction was at a fever pitch, with construction of
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace ( da, Christiansborg Slot; ) is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament ('), the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme ...
having been begun three years earlier. He was named captain in the Engineer Corps, and named royal building master with supervisory responsibility for
Jutland
Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...
and
Funen
Funen ( da, Fyn, ), with an area of , is the third-largest island of Denmark, after Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy. It is the 165th-largest island in the world. It is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 469,947 as of ...
in 1735.
Royal building master
Thus began a lifelong rivalry with colleague
Lauritz de Thurah
Laurids Lauridsen de Thurah, known as Lauritz de Thurah (4 March 1706 – 5 September 1759), was a Danish architect and architectural writer. He became the most important Danish architect of the late baroque period. As an architectural writer ...
, another royal building master and the leading proponent of baroque architecture at the time. Eigtved became the king's preferred architect, and Eigtved's
rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
style was the preferred building style. As a result, de Thurah was often overlooked, while Eigtved got the best assignments.
He participated along with German architect
Elias David Hausser and Lauritz de Thurah in the interior construction of Christiansborg Palace, with wood sculpting by
Louis August le Clerc
Louis August le Clerc (1688 – 8 March 1771), also known as Louis-Augustin le Clerc, was a French-born sculptor working in Denmark. He was born in Metz, France to copperplate engraver Sebastian le Clerc and his wife Charlotte van den Kerckhove. ...
. Eigtved and de Thurah, for the most part, divided up the interior assignments. Eigtved designed the king's apartments, the main staircase, the chapel's interior, the riding grounds, and the Marble Bridge (''Marmorbroen'') and its two pavilions, and gave the castle its delicate
Louis XIV style
The Louis XIV style or ''Louis Quatorze'' ( , ), also called French classicism, was the style of architecture and decorative arts intended to glorify King Louis XIV and his reign. It featured majesty, harmony and regularity. It became the officia ...
. Most of Eigtved's accomplishments at Christiansborg were lost in the fire of 1794.
Hausser, who had been the original architect for the project, lost his influence as the younger de Thurah and Eigtved took on larger assignments in the castle project. In 1738 the king set up a royal buildings commission that would lead the continued work on the castle. The commission would be led by State Minister Count
Johan Sigismund Schulin (1694-1750). At the same time Eigtved and de Thurah switched areas of responsibilities, where de Thurah gave up Copenhagen and the island of Zealand, in exchange for Eigtved's Jutland Peninsula.
![Frederiksholms Kanal - Prinsens Palæ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Frederiksholms_Kanal_-_Prinsens_Pal%C3%A6.jpg)
In 1742 Eigtved was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Engineer Corps, became a member of the Building Commission, and took over the role of leading architect for Christiansborg Palace from Hausser. Eigtved designed and built, along with Boye Junge, The
Prince's mansion at
Frederiksholm's Canal (''Frederiksholms Kanal'') 1743–1744, for the Crown Prince
Frederik V. The building is now the
National Museum
A national museum is a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In other countries a much greater numb ...
(''Nationalmuseet''). At the same time, he also designed a mansion for Schulin of the Building Commission in Frederiksdal.
Between 1744 and 1745, Eigtved built a small pavilion for Privy Councillor J.S. Schulin on the
Furesø Lake Furesø could refer to:
* Furesø municipality Furesø could refer to:
* Furesø municipality, Denmark
* Furesø (lake)
Furesø is a lake in Northeastern Zealand, Denmark and the deepest lake in Denmark. It defined Farum municipality's southea ...
called
Frederiksdal Pavilion. Credited with being the earlier example of "
maison de plaisance
In Renaissance and Early Modern German architecture, a ''Lustschloss'' (french: maison de plaisance, both equating in English to "pleasure castle/house") is a small country house or palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, usual ...
" in Denmark, "it jointly had large and small rooms symmetrically ordered around the main axis' vestibule and constervatory. The
mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof (also called a French roof or curb roof) is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterised by two slopes on each of its sides, with the lower slope, punctured by dormer windows, at a steeper angle than the upper. The ...
is the result of an alteration carried out by
Johann Gottfried Rosenberg in 1752–1753, who while working on Frederiksdal also designed Margård Manor on
Funen
Funen ( da, Fyn, ), with an area of , is the third-largest island of Denmark, after Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy. It is the 165th-largest island in the world. It is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 469,947 as of ...
, also inspired by French country estates."
Foundation for the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Around this same time he came in contact with the Drawing and Painting Academy (''Tegne - og Malerakademiet''), predecessor to the
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts ( da, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi - Billedkunst Skolerne) has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark.
History
The Royal Dani ...
(''Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi''). Until then the Academy has had an impoverished existence with weak leadership. Eigtved overtook administrative responsibility for the Academy in 1745 after the departure of
Hieronimo Miani as leader from Denmark.
The Marble Bridge at Christiansborg was completed in 1744. He was named Church Inspector for Copenhagen,
Kronborg
Kronborg is a castle and stronghold in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the UNES ...
, Antborskov,
Vordingborg
Vordingborg () is an old ferry town in Vordingborg Municipality in Denmark with around 18,000 inhabitants. Because of three large estates surrounding the town, a coherent urban development has not been possible, which is the reason why three sat ...
and Tryggevælde district in 1745.
In 1746 Frederik V ascended to the throne, and along with him came the powerful statesman and leader Court Marshal (''Hofmarshal'')
Adam Gottlob Moltke
Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke (10 November 171025 September 1792) was a Danish courtier, statesman and diplomat, and Favourite of Frederick V of Denmark. Moltke was born at Riesenhof in Mecklenburg. His son, Joachim Godske Moltke, and his gra ...
, who became Eigtved's proponent in the court.
On 28 December 1747 he made a proposal to create a stronger foundation for the Academy, which was approved by the King on 12 February 1748. In this way Eigtved took control of the Academy as its first strong administrator, and the first Dane in a leading position. In late summer 1748 the Academy moved to the floor above the Crown Prince's stables at Christiansborg Palace, where Eigtved also had his official offices.
Copenhagen district: Frederiksstad
![Frederik VIII's Palæ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Frederik_VIII%27s_Pal%C3%A6.jpg)
In 1748 it was 300 years since the
Oldenburg family took the throne in Denmark, and in 1749 the 300-year jubilee of the
coronation
A coronation is the act of placement or bestowal of a coronation crown, crown upon a monarch's head. The term also generally refers not only to the physical crowning but to the whole ceremony wherein the act of crowning occurs, along with the ...
of
Christian I of Denmark
Christian I (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464). From 1460 to 1481, he was also duke of Schleswig (within Den ...
was commemorated with the establishment of a new district in Copenhagen called Frederiksstad. Heading the project was Moltke, and Eigtved was architect. The new Frederiksstaden district was built on the former grounds of Amalien Garden (''Amalienhave''), and became a fine example of European rococo architecture.
At the center of the district lay the four palaces at
Amalienborg
Amalienborg () is the official residence for the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Queen Magrethe ll lives here in winter and autumn. It consists of four identical classical palace façades with rococo
Rococo (, ...
, including the Moltke Palace, today known as Christian VII's Palace, surrounding the octagonal Amalienborg Plaza. In the middle of the plaza, Moltke's
Danish Asia Company
Danish Asiatic Company ( Danish: Asiatisk Kompagni) was a Danish trading company established in 1730 to revive Danish trade on the Danish East Indies and China following the closure of the Danish East India Company. It was granted a 40-year mon ...
erected a monumental equestrian statue of Frederick VI designed by
Jacques François Joseph Saly. The four palaces surrounding the plaza were identical from the outside, but different on the inside. Moltke's Palace was the most expensive, and had the most extravagant interiors. Its Great Hall (''Riddersalen'') is acknowledged widely as perhaps the finest Danish rococo interior.
Eigtved also designed and built in the Frederikstaden district
Frederiks Hospital
The royal Frederiks Hospital was Denmark's first hospital in the present-day meaning of the word. It was founded by king Frederik V and financed by the earnings from the Norwegian Postal Service.
The buildings, situated in Bredgade in Copenh ...
, now the Danish Museum of Applied Arts ('' Kunstindustrimuseet''). Eigtved also led building work on one of the masterpieces of Frederiksstad — the centrally located
Frederik's Church
Frederik's Church ( da, Frederiks Kirke), popularly known as The Marble Church () for its rococo architecture, is an Church of Denmark, Evangelical Lutheran church in Copenhagen, Denmark. The church forms the focal point of the Frederiksstaden d ...
(''Frederikskirke''), now commonly referred to as now known as The Marble Church (''Marmorkirken'').
Moltke, who was also director for the
Danish Asiatic Company
Danish Asiatic Company ( Danish: Asiatisk Kompagni) was a Danish trading company established in 1730 to revive Danish trade on the Danish East Indies and China following the closure of the Danish East India Company. It was granted a 40-year mon ...
, had Eigtved design a warehouse for the company on
Christianshavn
Christianshavn (literally, "ingChristian's Harbour") is a neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. Part of the Indre By District, it is located on several artificial islands between the islands of Zealand and Amager and separated from the rest of th ...
. The building called Eigtved's Pakhus was built 1748–1750. During this same period of time Eigtved also worked on the expansion of Moltke's estate
Bregentved
Bregentved is a manor house located 3 km east of Haslev on the Danish island of Zealand. It has been owned by the Moltke family since the middle of the 18th century.
History
Early history
The first known reference to Bregentved is from 1 ...
, which had been given to him by the King after his ascension to the throne. He was promoted to colonel in the Engineer Corps in 1749.
Change of direction and Eigtved's fall
Eigtved became the Art Academy's first director in 1751. However Eigtved's rococo style, which had been popular for so long, was about to suffer with the
absolutist King's change of interest. On 30 March 1754, on the King's thirtieth birthday, the Academy moved to
Charlottenborg, and became dedicated as the Royal Danish Academy of Art, after inspiration from France's
Académie française
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
. Eigtved was snubbed at the Academy of Art's opening ceremony when professor and royal portraitist
Carl Gustaf Pilo
Carl Gustaf Pilo (5 March 1711 – 2 March 1793) was a Swedish artist and painter. Pilo worked extensively in Denmark as a painter to the Danish Royal Court and as professor and director at the Royal Danish Academy of Art ( da, Det Kongel ...
gave the welcoming speech to King Frederick V, not Eigtved. Eigtved was removed from the Director's position a few days later, and the directorship went to Frenchman sculptor
Jacques Saly. Also on the same day that the Academy was moved to Charlottenborg, the Eigtved-designed Moltke Palace was officially dedicated by the king.
![Sophienberg 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Sophienberg_2.jpg)
At his death two of the four Amalienborg Palaces were complete, the two western palaces. The work that he had begun was continued by de Thurah strictly according to Eigtved's plans. The palaces were finally completed in 1760. de Thurah tried unsuccessfully to get project leadership of the work on Frederick's Church, but was denied that role, which went instead to
Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Nicolas-Henri Jardin (22 March 1720 – 31 August 1799) was a French architect. Born in St. Germain des Noyers, Seine-et-Marne, Jardin worked seventeen years in Denmark–Norway as an architect to the Danish royal court. He introduced neoclassicis ...
on 1 April 1756.
He stands along with Laurids de Thurah as the leading architect of his time. His death probably saved him from the same type of long, agonizing downfall, as de Thurah had suffered, when his rococo style gave way to the King's newly preferred
neoclassicism
Neoclassicism (also spelled Neo-classicism) was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassicism was ...
and his newly preferred architect, Nicolas-Henri Jarden. Eigtved also built
Sophienberg
Sophienberg is a former royal summer retreat located on the Coast Road in Rungsted, Hørsholm Municipality, some 20 km north of central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is now operated as a venue for meetings and smaller conferences.
History
Sophienberg w ...
in Rungsted, the old Royal Danish Teatre, and in 1753 helped extend
Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace ( da, Fredensborg Slot; ) is a palace located on the eastern shore of Lake Esrum ( Danish, ''Esrum Sø'') in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand (''Sjælland'') in Denmark. It is the Danish Royal Family’s spring and autumn ...
by adding four symmetrically positioned corner pavilions with separate copper pyramid-shaped roofs to the main building.
Personal life
On 24 May 1743, he married Sophie Christine Walther (1726-1795), chambermaid to Princess Louise, at Frederickborg Castle Chapel. They had seven children, but only three lived to adulthood. His daughter Anne Margrethe Eigtved was married to architect
Georg David Anthon
Georg (George) David Anthon (1 October 1714 – 30 August 1781) was a German born, Danish architect.
Background
Anthon was born in Northern Germany. He was student of Danish architect Nicolai Eigtved (1701–1754) and graduated as a teacher o ...
(1714–1781).
Eigtved died on 7 June 1754 in Copenhagen. He and members of his family were buried at
St. Peter's Church, Copenhagen.
References
Other sources
*Knud Voss; Nicolai Eigtved (1971) ''Arkitekten Nicolai Eigtved, 1701-1754'' (Copenhagen: Nyt Nordisk Forlag)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eigtved, Nicolai
1701 births
1754 deaths
18th-century Danish architects
People from Ringsted Municipality
People from Vejle Municipality
Directors of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
Danish Rococo architects