Copenhagen

T H E SIGHTS OF COPENHAGEN.

of small room s o p en ing into each o ther. hope Each room contains one statue, some bas- reliefs inserted in the walls, and a couple of busts. This arrangem en t was made by Tho rvald sen ’s desire; he w ished the spec­ tator to concentrate his interest, as far as possible, on one work at a time. The effect of the bu ild ing as a whole is un comm on ; with all its apparent sim ­ plicity it has a distinct style of its own. As regards architectural decoration, Bin- desboll has for the most part confined himself to one motive, taken from the old Etruscan rock-sepulchres, namely the frame of a door, the slanting lines of which meet at the top and are surm ounted by a b ro ad e r lintel line o r frame. He has made use of this both on the outer

façades and on the walls facing the court, and by the help of colour has produced a most effective decoration with very small means. But w hat is most characteristic and inge­ nious abou t the bu ild ing is the way in which its style and whole design fit it to serve its double purpose of museum and m ausoleum . No one app roach ing from the front and seeing the b ro ad flight of stone steps leading up to the five great doors, which form almost the whole front of the façade and are surm oun ted by a beautiful Ionian architrave crowned by a w inged V ictory with a team of fourpowerfulhorses, could for a m om ent d o ub t that it is atemple of art which stands before him. Then, when he enters the court, sees the tom b (enclosed by high walls richly decorated in antique fashion w ith palms, delicately foliaged trees, wreaths, vases, tripod s —light on a black ground), and, raising his eyes from it, beholds, th rough the open doo r of the Christ Hall, the m ighty form of ou r Saviour between the double row of

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