Hirschsprung Collection

Deep within Copenhagen’s heart, the Hirschsprung Collection awaits. It’s not just a museum; it’s a love story woven into the fabric of Danish art. Heinrich Hirschsprung, a tobacco magnate, and his wife Pauline shared a burning passion for art. They began collecting in 1866, amassing a treasure trove of Danish Golden Age paintings, sculptures, and even artists’ furniture. The Hirschsprung Collection first took shape in 1888, previewed at Charlottenborg Palace. The collection then blossomed, echoing the Hirschsprungs’ growing fascination with the Skagen Painters and the Symbolists, a testament to their evolving tastes. Think of artists like Peder Severin Krøyer, capturing the ethereal glow of Skagen’s beaches. Imagine the intimate interiors painted by Anna Ancher. These are the gems you’ll find within these walls. In 1902, the Hirschsprungs made a grand gesture, gifting their collection to the Danish nation. They had one condition: a dedicated home for their beloved art. The neoclassical building we stand before, designed by Hermann Baagøe Storck, is the result. It opened in 1911, a year before Pauline’s passing, a bittersweet triumph. Inside, the Hirschsprung Collection unfolds chronologically. You journey through the Danish Golden Age, encountering masterpieces by C.W. Eckersberg and Christen Købke. You witness the shift towards modernism with works by Theodor Philipsen and the evocative paintings of the Funen artists. Notice the furniture too. It’s not just décor. It’s provenance furniture, pieces that once graced the homes of the very artists whose work adorns the walls. The Hirschsprung Collection isn’t just about paintings and sculptures. It’s about a couple’s shared passion. It’s about the evolution of Danish art. It’s a story whispered in brushstrokes and carved in wood. It’s a story waiting to be discovered, right here, at the Hirschsprung Collection.