Overlijden van Bertel Thorwaldsen, beeldhouwer te Rome 1844

This is a commemorative coin, made of silver by Harald Conradsen to mark the death of Bertel Thorvaldsen, a renowned sculptor in Rome. Thorvaldsen's neoclassical style, inspired by classical antiquity, dominated European sculpture in the early 19th century. The coin presents two sides of his identity. On one side, a classical portrait of Thorvaldsen with the inscription "Albertus Thorvaldsen Danus Svlptor." His depiction recalls the heroic statuary of ancient Greece and Rome, aligning him with the artistic values of the classical world, while his Danish nationality is also proclaimed. The reverse shows a chariot pulled by four horses with a figure reminiscent of Pheme, the ancient Greek goddess of fame and renown. This coin tells us about the cultural institutions of the era and the cult of the artist. In death, Thorvaldsen's legacy was immortalized through institutional recognition. Such commemorative objects remind us that artistic greatness is not just about individual talent, but also about the social and cultural systems that elevate certain figures to iconic status. By exploring archives, letters, and critical reviews, we can understand the cultural context that gave rise to such commemorative practices and the enduring power of art to shape public memory.