4. C.W. Eckersberg - a golden age painter's papers and climatological gaugings

During the 19. and 20. century The University Library inherited collections of papers and letters from a number of Danish artists, i.a. Johs. Wiedewelt, Jens Juel and C.W. Eckersberg, just to mention a few of the greatest names. C.W. Eckersberg became the most important and influential Danish painter during the first half of the 1800s. After staying in Paris and Rome he became a member of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, in 1818 professor sst. and the leading teacher at the academy's life class. His classicistic views on art, formed under the influence of David in Paris, also made a great impact on his many students and was a dominating trait in the 'golden age' of Danish art far into the 19. century, Wilhelm Marstrand being the last major representative.

Eckerberg's papers were in 1900 donated by his daughter to The University Library, after the art historian Emil Hannover had sorted and registered them. The collection consists of 17 files and includes Eckersberg's personal papers (i.a. journeys), papers concerning his activities as a painter and member of various commissions, his extensive Danish and international correspondence, as well as many concepts for certificates and assessments of artists. In 1923 the library received a further 15 volumes of account books and diaries 1810-53.

Following the removal of The University Library's manuscripts to The Royal Library in 1938, The Royal Library received from Climatological Department at the Institute of Meteorology, Eckersberg's notes 'on weather, wind and temperatures in Copenhagen', recorded from 1810 to 1851 (14 vols.). The donation from the year 1900 reflects the extensive usage by art historians, and the entire archive has to be repackaged in up-to-date acid-free material.