The Skovgaard Museum in Viborg
The Skovgaard Museum is situated in Viborg, Denmark. It occupies the Old Town Hall, a historical building dating from 1728. The museum is located at Domkirkestræde 2-4, positioned near Viborg Cathedral. This setting places the collection within the historical center of the city.
The museum's holdings include Danish art from the Golden Age alongside modern contemporary art. The collection reflects the artistic output of the Skovgaard family and their contemporaries. Visitors can explore these works within the architectural framework of the former town hall. The museum is wheelchair accessible.
The Skovgaard Artist Family Collection
The collection centers on the works of the Skovgaard family, tracing a lineage of Danish artistic production from the Golden Age through the Modern Breakthrough. It encompasses the paintings and crafts of P. C. Skovgaard and his descendants, including Joakim, Niels, and Susette Skovgaard. While the earlier works focus on the romantic perception of the Danish landscape, the later generations moved toward different motifs and forms of expression.
A significant portion of the holdings is dedicated to the monumental decorative work of Joakim Skovgaard. The museum preserves his sketches and preparations for the decoration of Viborg Cathedral, a project spanning from 1895 to 1906. These studies provide insight into the process of creating the large-scale visual narratives found within the cathedral. The museum's basement is specifically dedicated to his work.
The museum also maintains a mosaic workshop, which is available to the public during opening hours. This facility allows for a direct engagement with the materials and techniques used in decorative arts. The collection includes various items such as:
- Portrait of a Young Artist. The Painter Aage Bertelsen, 1893 - Aage Bertelsen
- Signora Domenica Cerroni, 1886 - Joakim Skovgaard
- A Forest Lake. Bathing Boys by Bondedammen, 1867 - P. C. Skovgaard
- The bridge and the mountains, 1913 - Niels Skovgaard
Artistic Works and Decorative Crafts
The collection features landscape paintings by P. C. Skovgaard that depict romantic perceptions of the Danish nature. These works focus on the specificities of the local terrain, from the rolling hills of Jutland to the dense forests of Zealand. The museum also holds significant examples of decorative arts produced by the later generations of the Skovgaard family. Joakim, Niels, and Susette Skovgaard produced ceramic works that are linked to Wallmann's pottery workshop in Utterslev. These ceramic pieces often involved collaboration with Thorvald Bindesbøll, reflecting an interest in integrating art into everyday objects.
The museum's holdings include various media that bridge the gap between fine art and functional design. Beyond the paintings and ceramics, the institution maintains a selection of works related to the decoration of Viborg Cathedral. Visitors can find specific items in the museum shop, which includes art books, posters, and design items.
- Interior with Georgia Skovgaard and her sons Joakim and Niels, 1860
- Signora Domenica Cerroni, 1886
- Portrait of a Young Artist. The Painter Aage Bertelsen, 1893
- A Forest Lake. Bathing Boys by Bondedammen, 1867
- Professor N.L. Høyen to Have an Audience with the Pope, 1854
- Quiet summer evening at a lake in the forest. Young women are washing clothes in Bondedammen in Hellebaek, 1858
Visiting the Museum and Its Exhibits
The museum is housed in the Old Town Hall, a historical building dating from 1728 located near Viborg Cathedral. Visitors can explore the permanent collection and various special exhibitions within this setting. For those interested in hands-on engagement, a mosaic workshop is available during opening hours. The museum is designed to be family-friendly, offering specific activities tailored for children and youth.
Access to the museum follows seasonal schedules. From September through May, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. During the summer months of June through August, the hours extend to 10 am to 5 pm, also from Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays, with the exception of Easter Monday and Whit Monday. Please note that the museum remains closed from December 23 to 26, on December 31, and on January 1.
