This is part of a grave stone on Assistens Cemetery in the workers area of Nørrebro in Copenhagen. It was founded in 1757 and was for many years the city's main burial place. It's mainly associated with the Danish Golden Age from 1800 to 1850 and has a lot of the historic figures of that time buried here, among them Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard. You can also find the graves of Henry Heerup, Ben Webster and Niels Bohr of later fame.A part of the cemetery is a Memorial Park and museum area, and by 2020 a third of the cemetery will be a proper park. As is all other major cemeteries in Copenhagen, this one is also used as an informal park with joggers, people walking their dogs and couples with prams.
What I like about it, is the abundance of old style gravestones like the one above. They were the rage among the well-to-do of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th.
This head looks so 'alive': it is rare to find such expressivity in minor sculpture. Oh, some famous Danes I know, I envy a bit this idea of a cemetery as a park. Very good post and image.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful sculpture. I love the moss on the head. Grave stones will never be like this again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous sculpture...and what a wonderful park it must be!!!! I love the fact that it is both a cemetery and a park! Thanks for sharing this with us....it's absolutely intriguing, and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteA sad looking statue. I didn't know H.C.Andersen is buried here. What does his grave look like?
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