THORVVALDSEN. 139 



bestowed not merely homage and honor, but thanks and submission. 

 The Danes, not last in the ranks of literature and science, wete yet 

 unused to such national glory in the domains of art. "Thorvvaldsen" 

 was the redemption of national pride, and the bond of patriotic union. 

 His funeral was celebrated with the same elevated feelings, when only a 

 few years later, on the 24th of March, 1844, he met a sudden, but peace- 

 ful and happy death. 



Thorwaldsen took but little part or interest in the affairs of ordinary 

 life. Fame was his grand passion. He devoted himself entirely to his 

 statues, and, though one of the most modest men in the world, defended 

 the productions of his chisel with the most lively interest. Of com-se, 

 he was quite susceptible to criticism, as every artist and man of genius 

 is said to be. It has also been intimated that he was influenced by a 

 much lower passion, avarice, but not only his numerous acts of charity 

 and generosity, but much more the noble donations, v.'hich he made to 

 his native city, are a sufficient refutation of this charge. He early bes- 

 towed upon it not only some of his finest productions, but likewise a 

 splendid collection of pictures, medallions, mosaics and otlier treasures 

 which he had partly purchased and partly had presented to him by 

 his numerous friends and admirers. This charge of avarice, however 

 originated in the retired habits, and plain and simple mode of living a- 

 dopted by the artist. He was never mar-ried, but adopted a neice, to whom 

 he was very much attached ; and he was very domestic in his habits. 

 He seemed never to think of conveniences, much less of show or cere- 

 mony. If you rang at his door he would often come to it himself, and 

 a friend was always sure of a cordial reception. In winter, you would 

 fiird him in his night-gown, his feet wrapped up in warm slippers, in a 

 room of moderate dimensions, warmed (in Italy) only by the heat of 

 the sun, where he worked at his plaster models. It was only now and 

 then that he was to be found in his work-shop in the Barherini palace, 

 where the casts of most of his statues and basreliefs were set up, arrd 

 whiclr was one of the finest places to which visitors at Rome turned 

 their steps. But if you found him in the midst of this world of his 

 own creation, his criticisms upon one object and another satisfied you 

 that he was not unaware of the differences between his productions nor 

 of the faidts of some of his works ; here he rose to the height of artis- 

 tic dignity, and laid aside all the littleness of variety. Most remarkable 

 upon such occasions was what he said of his statue of Christ ; in this 

 he professed to have reached the zenith of his art, yea, almost to have 

 fulfilled the mission of his life as an artist. He seemed to insist upon 

 the recognition of this work, as though he had some internal doubts 



