SkovgaardMuseet

It all started with the decoration of Viborg Cathedral

The story behind the Skovgaard Museum begins with the decoration of Viborg Cathedral. In 1726 a fire destroyed large parts of the town, including the cathedral, which was then rebuilt by the architect Claus Stallknecht. The cathedral was not built properly and was therefore demolished in 1863 and reconstructed in a medieval, romanesque style, completed in 1876. The Danish artist F.C. Lund decorated the ceiling of the central nave in the mid-1870's, but after only a couple of decades the town of Viborg wanted to add decorations on the walls and vaults. The artist Joakim Skovgaard, who as a young art student had assisted F.C. Lund in his work with the cathedral, was commissioned to create a new decoration.

Between 1901 and 1906, Joakim Skovgaard, along with a number of assistants, decorated the walls and vaults of the cathedral with 51 frescoes. He returned in 1912 to 1913, in order to add a new ceiling decoration, this time using oil paint on wood, replacing Lund's original ceiling. The result was the most comprehensive architectural decoration ever created in Denmark, an extraordinary and innovative artistic feat that to this day stands as one of the masterpieces of Danish art.

The founding of the museum
The town of Viborg were so proud of their new decorated cathedral, that they decided to honour Joakim Skovgaard with a museum. However, Joakim Skovgaard requested that the museum should represent the entire Skovgaard family and not just himself, as numerous other members of his family also were gifted artists. In return, the Skovgaard family would donate their private art collection to the museum. In 1937 the museum opened its' doors next the cathedral, in the building adjacent to the current museum building. Over the years, the museum has been housed in different locations, but always in close proximity of the cathedral

The collection
The collection has grown over the years through continuing donations from the family as well as acquisitions made by the museum itself. Today it includes not only works by the Skovgaard family of artists, but also their contemporaries and others, together making the collection a rich representation of Danish arts and crafts from around 1830-1960. Of a particular note is the collection of furniture, ceramics and silverware by Thorvald Bindesbøll, one of Denmark's first great designers, who was a close friend and partner to Joakim Skovgaard.

The Skovgaard Museum is the only art museum in Denmark, which is dedicated to the artistic heritage of one family - the Skovgaard family. Works by four generations of the Skovgaard family and their contemporaries are displayed alongside related contemporary artworks.

A family of artists
Joakim Skovgaard's father, Peter Christian Skovgaard, known as P. C. Skovgaard (1817-1875), is one of the master landscape painters from what is called the Golden Age of Danish painting (1800-1850). He represents a generation of painters, who depicted a nationalist and romantic version of the Danish landscape. A selection of his works are on display in the upper floor of the museum.

P.C. Skovgaard was married to Georgia Schouw (1828-1868). Together they had three children, who would all become artists. Their sons Joakim (1856-1933) and Niels (1858-1938) produced landscape paintings like their father, but they were also at the forefront of the breakthrough to symbolism and a new interpretation of motifs from the Bible as well as Nordic mythology. Several of their artworks are on display on the lower floor of the Skovgaard Museum. Their younger sister Susette (1863-1937) was also a painter and ceramicist. Many of the descendents from the three Skovgaard siblings' would also pursue artistic careers.

Temporary exhibitions
The Skovgaard Museum shows temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The exhibitions range from nineteenth century to contemporary art and are related to the different aspects of the permanent collection. The exhibitions create different perspectives on the museum collection, but at the same time the collection also lends new perspectives to perceiving the temporary exhibitions.

The old town hall
Today the Skovgaard Museum is situated in Viborg's old town hall from 1728, built by the German architect Claus Stallknecht, who also rebuilt the cathedral after the great fire in 1726. The building is considered to be a landmark heritage building erected in baroque style, and its' different rooms have served various purposes over the years such as ball room, bank, court room, military hospital and many more. Where the rest room is situated today, prisoners were held captive while awaiting trial, the iron rings are still attached to the walls. The front door still has the original lock from 1728, and you may ask to see the large key used to lock it.

The museum garden
Behind the museum is a small garden with a fountain and flowers. You can enjoy your lunch at the tables under the trees or buy ice cream, coffee or cake in the café, which is open during the summer holiday.

Practical information

Address
Domkirkestræde 2-4
DK-8800 Viborg
Tel.: +45 86 62 39 75
Email:post@skovgaardmuseet.dk

Opening hours
June - Aug: Tues. - Sun.
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sep - May: Tues. - Sun.
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Admission
Adults kr. 60.-
Seniors kr. 55.-
Under 18 free admission
Groups of 10 or more kr. 50.-
For school visits please contact post@skovgaardmuseet.dk

Parking is possible at the square in front of the Cathedral for cars and busses. There are direct trains from Aarhus every half hour. It is a 10 minute walk from Viborg station to the museum via the pedestrian street.

Getting here