Art. Politics. Business. Love. Frustrations … Our letter archive from the Skovgaard family contains more than 7,000 letters and documents spanning a period of over 100 years. It offers a unique insight into a time and a daily life that have shaped the Denmark we know today.
The letter archive at the Skovgaard Museum is an exceptional source for shedding light on aspects of the country’s cultural development from the first half of the 19th century through to the 1930s.
The archive contains more than 9,000 letters and documents that tell the story of the Skovgaard family’s many close connections to leading artists, politicians, and scholars of their time.
Here you will find P.C. Skovgaard’s (1817–1875) correspondence with painters such as Constantin Hansen and J. Th. Lundbye, with the art historian N.L. Høyen, with the family friend N.F.S. Grundtvig, and with the politician and minister Orla Lehmann.
These letters provide a unique insight not only into the artistic trends and discussions of the Danish Golden Age, but also into the political developments of a time when Denmark’s borders and national identity were undergoing significant change.
Letters from several generations
The archive also includes letters to and from P.C. Skovgaard’s children: Joakim Skovgaard (1856–1933), Niels Skovgaard (1858–1938), and Susette Holten (née Skovgaard) (1868–1937). These three artists each developed careers in different directions, yet all carried traces of their father’s talent and diligence.
When exploring the extensive letter collection, one can read about major decorative projects—including Viborg Cathedral—personal accounts of love, descriptions of working processes, travel narratives, and much more.
Through the letters, we gain a unique insight into the lives and activities of the Skovgaard artists, while also receiving a nuanced portrayal of society at the time. The letters are continuously being transcribed and digitized, making them easily accessible to researchers and other interested individuals.
A legacy from Peter Skovgaard
The Skovgaard Museum’s letter archive is a legacy from Peter Skovgaard (1887–1972), the son of Joakim Skovgaard, and holds more than 9,000 letters and documents.
You can explore our extensive letter archive in the database Kilder til Dansk Kunsthistorie (Sources for Danish Art History). https://skovgaard.ktdk.dk/soeg
You are welcome to contact us if you wish to study the original letters.
If you have archival material you would like to donate, we would also be pleased to hear from you.
Contact letter archivist Sofie Bach Kristensen:
Phone: +45 2515 1350
Email: sbh@skovgaardmuseet.dk