Thorvaldsen, Bertel

(born Nov. 19, 1770, or Nov. 13, 1768, Copenhagen, Den.—died March 24, 1844) Danish sculptor. Son of an Icelandic wood carver, he studied in Copenhagen and won a scholarship for travel to Rome, where he would remain for over 40 years and pursue one of the most successful sculpting careers of the 19th century. His return to Copenhagen in 1838 was celebrated as a national event. Most of his sculptures are reinterpretations of Classical figures and themes; he also did religious statues and portrait busts.

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