Christian Frederik Hansen
Encyclopedia
Christian Frederik Hansen (29 February 1756 – 10 July 1845), known as C.F. Hansen, was the leading Danish
architect between the late 18th century and the mid 19th century, and on account of his position at the Royal Danish Academy of Art
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) the most powerful person in artistic circles for many years. He was known as "Denmark’s Palladio
" on account of the architectural style he promoted. His buildings are known for their simplicity, strength and scale.
into the poor household of shoemaker and leatherworker Matthias Hansen and his wife Anna Marie, who had been nursemaid for Prince Christian VII
. He was the youngest son in the family, and there was not much money to spend on his upbringing. His parents sent him to train in business, but he wanted to draw. His mother used her connections at the royal court, and found some influential people who interested themselves in his education and training.
He was brought into training as a bricklayer, and at the same time he attended classes at the Academy of Art starting in 1766. He studied at the Academy under architect Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
, but probably also received some training from Nicolas-Henri Jardin
. He won the Academy’s small silver medallion in 1772-1773, the large silver medallion in 1774-1775, and the large gold medallion in 1779.
's chapel at Roskilde Cathedral
in 1780.
He received no travel grant from the Academy, in spite of his receiving the gold medallion. Instead he received economic support from Dowager Queen Juliane Marie
and King Christian VII for a shorter tour, and he traveled out of the country starting in late 1782, travelling over Vienna and Venice to Rome, where he studied ancient Roman art. His student drawings from the trip are kept in the Academy’s Library to this day.
He returned home September 1784, and became a member of the Academy in 1785.
and Holstein
, with residence in Altona
, a position for which he had applied in 1782. He held this position from 24 November 1784 until his retirement on 31 October 1844.
He was named titular Professor at the Academy in 1791. In 1792 he married Anne Margrethe Rahbek.
He prospered during his 18 years in Altona and Hamburg
, with a private practice that made up for the meager earnings he made in his official position. He built fine houses for the well-to-do, both in town and out in the country, estates, and small churches. He designed many fine houses along Altona's elegant boulevard Palmaillen, including some investment houses at his own expense, which helped boost his earnings substantially when sold. He used a simple Roman Palladio-style in his work.
When Harsdorff died in 1799 a number of public building projects were transferred to Hansen, among these the completion of Frederik's Church
, also known as The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) in Copenhagen.
Hansen was responsible for the building of the City Hall and Courthouse on Nytorv (1805–1815), and the rebuilding of Church of Our Lady
(Vor Frue Kirke) along with the surrounding square (1811–1829), after the church was burned down during the bombing of the second Battle of Copenhagen
in 1807.
He overtook Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
's leading position at the Academy, and was chosen eight times as Director of the Academy, 1811–1818, 1821–1827, and 1830-1833.
He was responsible for the Town Hall and Court Building at the site of the old Waisenhus, which was completed in 1815. That same year Metropolitan School was completed on Frue Plads.
The other major work he did was the rebuilding of Christiansborg Palace
, which had burned down during the fire of 1794. The chapel was completed in 1826, and the rest of the building was completed in 1828.
In 1823 his church in Hørsholm
, on the site of the former Hirschholm Palace
, was dedicated. In 1826 he was named ‘’Konferensråd’’. In 1830 he established a medallion to be given to young architects. He became titled with the Order of the Dannebrog
in 1840.
His marble bust of sculptor Hermann Ernst Freund is in the Academy’s Assembly Hall, as is his portrait of artist Conrad Christian August Bøhndel.
He died at his home in Frederiksberg
at the age of nearly 90, and is buried in the Church of Holmen
in Copenhagen
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architect between the late 18th century and the mid 19th century, and on account of his position at the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts has provided a practice-oriented complement to the scholarly investigation of the arts carried out at Danish universities for more than 250 years, playing a crucial part in the development of the distinctive tradition of the art of Denmark.- History :The Royal...
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) the most powerful person in artistic circles for many years. He was known as "Denmark’s Palladio
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio was an architect active in the Republic of Venice. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily by Vitruvius, is widely considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture...
" on account of the architectural style he promoted. His buildings are known for their simplicity, strength and scale.
Upbringing and training
He was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
into the poor household of shoemaker and leatherworker Matthias Hansen and his wife Anna Marie, who had been nursemaid for Prince Christian VII
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
. He was the youngest son in the family, and there was not much money to spend on his upbringing. His parents sent him to train in business, but he wanted to draw. His mother used her connections at the royal court, and found some influential people who interested themselves in his education and training.
He was brought into training as a bricklayer, and at the same time he attended classes at the Academy of Art starting in 1766. He studied at the Academy under architect Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, also known as C.F. Harsdorff, , Danish neoclassical architect is considered to be Denmark’s leading architect in the late 18th century, and is referred to as “The Father of Danish Classicism”.- Early life and training :He was born Caspar Frederik Harsdørffer in...
, but probably also received some training from Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Nicolas-Henri Jardin , neoclassical architect, was born in St. Germain des Noyers, Dept. Seine-et-Marne, France, and worked seventeen years in Denmark as an architect to the royal court...
. He won the Academy’s small silver medallion in 1772-1773, the large silver medallion in 1774-1775, and the large gold medallion in 1779.
Career start
He was taken into Harsdorff's private studio where he worked on the construction of Frederik VFrederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
's chapel at Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
in 1780.
He received no travel grant from the Academy, in spite of his receiving the gold medallion. Instead he received economic support from Dowager Queen Juliane Marie
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Duchess Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel , , was queen of Denmark between 1752 and 1766, second consort of king Frederick V of Denmark and Norway, mother of the prince-regent Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and herself de facto regent 1772–1784.- Early life and queen :Born...
and King Christian VII for a shorter tour, and he traveled out of the country starting in late 1782, travelling over Vienna and Venice to Rome, where he studied ancient Roman art. His student drawings from the trip are kept in the Academy’s Library to this day.
He returned home September 1784, and became a member of the Academy in 1785.
18 years in Altona
Shortly afterwards he was named to the position of Regional Architect for the Duchies of SchleswigSchleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
and Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, with residence in Altona
Altona, Hamburg
Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
, a position for which he had applied in 1782. He held this position from 24 November 1784 until his retirement on 31 October 1844.
He was named titular Professor at the Academy in 1791. In 1792 he married Anne Margrethe Rahbek.
He prospered during his 18 years in Altona and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, with a private practice that made up for the meager earnings he made in his official position. He built fine houses for the well-to-do, both in town and out in the country, estates, and small churches. He designed many fine houses along Altona's elegant boulevard Palmaillen, including some investment houses at his own expense, which helped boost his earnings substantially when sold. He used a simple Roman Palladio-style in his work.
When Harsdorff died in 1799 a number of public building projects were transferred to Hansen, among these the completion of Frederik's Church
Frederik's Church
Frederick's Church , popularly known as The Marble Church is a church in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of Amalienborg Palace....
, also known as The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) in Copenhagen.
Return to Copenhagen
He returned to Copenhagen in 1804, where he lived until his death. He had a large, social household in a fabulously appointed apartment in Copenhagen. In 1808 he was named Professor of Architecture, Chief Building Director, and given the position of State Advisor (etatsråd). He held the title of Chief Building Director until his retirement.Hansen was responsible for the building of the City Hall and Courthouse on Nytorv (1805–1815), and the rebuilding of Church of Our Lady
Church of Our Lady (Copenhagen)
The Church of Our Lady is the cathedral of Copenhagen and the National Cathedral of Denmark. It is situated on Vor Frue Plads and next to the main building of the University of Copenhagen....
(Vor Frue Kirke) along with the surrounding square (1811–1829), after the church was burned down during the bombing of the second Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
in 1807.
He overtook Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard , Danish artist, was born in Copenhagen, the son of Søren Abildgaard, an antiquarian draughtsman of repute, and Anne Margrethe Bastholm.- Training as an artist :...
's leading position at the Academy, and was chosen eight times as Director of the Academy, 1811–1818, 1821–1827, and 1830-1833.
He was responsible for the Town Hall and Court Building at the site of the old Waisenhus, which was completed in 1815. That same year Metropolitan School was completed on Frue Plads.
The other major work he did was the rebuilding of Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
, which had burned down during the fire of 1794. The chapel was completed in 1826, and the rest of the building was completed in 1828.
In 1823 his church in Hørsholm
Hørsholm
Hørsholm Kommune is a municipality in the Copenhagen Capital Region in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 31 km², and has a total population of 24,197...
, on the site of the former Hirschholm Palace
Hirschholm Palace
Hirschholm Palace, also known as Hørsholm Palace, was a royal palace located in present-day Hørsholm municipality just north of Copenhagen, Denmark...
, was dedicated. In 1826 he was named ‘’Konferensråd’’. In 1830 he established a medallion to be given to young architects. He became titled with the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
in 1840.
His marble bust of sculptor Hermann Ernst Freund is in the Academy’s Assembly Hall, as is his portrait of artist Conrad Christian August Bøhndel.
He died at his home in Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
at the age of nearly 90, and is buried in the Church of Holmen
Church of Holmen
The Church of Holmen is a church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the wedding between Margrethe II of Denmark, current queen of Denmark,...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Works
- Krummbek ManorKrummbek ManorKrummbek Manor is a manor house in the municipality of Lasbek. It is a listed historical monument.- History :...
, LasbekLasbekLasbek is a municipality in the district of Stormarn, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, Germany (1803) - Christiansborg Palace (2nd)Christiansborg Palace (2nd)The second Christiansborg Palace was a new main residence for the Danish Monarch built from 1803 to 1828 in Copenhagen as a replacement for the first Christiansborg Palace which had been destroyed by fire in 1794. The new palace was constructed on Slotsholmen, on the ruins of its predecessor, and...
, CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark (1803−1828) - Copenhagen Court HouseCopenhagen Court HouseThe Copenhagen Court House is a historic building located on Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a combuined city hall and courthouse, it now serves as the seat of the District Court of Copenhagen...
, CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark (1815) - Hørsholm Church (1822–23)
- Church of Our Lady (Copenhagen)Church of Our Lady (Copenhagen)The Church of Our Lady is the cathedral of Copenhagen and the National Cathedral of Denmark. It is situated on Vor Frue Plads and next to the main building of the University of Copenhagen....
, CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark (1829)