Love at Carlsberg/Kærlighed på Carlsberg
The marriage of brewer Carl Jacobsen and his wife, Ottilia, was like a story written for cinema. Dive into their love story through 10 highlights as you make your way through the exhibition. Enjoy!
Brygger Carl Jacobsen og hans hustru Ottilia Jacobsens ægteskab var noget nær filmisk. Dyk ned i kærlighedsfortællingen gennem 10 nedslag, mens du går rundt i udstillingen. God fornøjelse!
1. How does a young man from Copenhagen find the love of his life in Scotland?
The love story between Carl and Ottilia Jacobsen begins more than 1,000 kilometres away from where you are standing.
The young sweethearts first met in 1868 in Edinburgh, Scotland, during one of Carl’s countless journeys abroad as a brewer. Ottilia was the daughter of Lorenz Carl Stegmann and Margrethe Louise Marie Brummer, a Danish merchant family settled in Edinburgh. That meeting marked the beginning of a truly remarkable romance.
Within the Jacobsen brewing family, there were, in fact, two very different stories of love. Carl’s father, J.C. Jacobsen, founder of Carlsberg, and his wife, Laura Jacobsen, lived in a marriage that appeared more dutiful than affectionate. J.C. was uncompromising, devoted to his brewery, science, and society. At the same time, Laura was often left in the background – despite many believing she was the true heart of the organisation and the reason J.C.’s life’s work ultimately succeeded. Few accounts suggest warmth or passion between them.
By contrast, Carl and Ottilia were a couple full of devotion. Preserved letters reveal a profound bond and dedication, from the first flickers of infatuation, with notes of longing penned during Carl’s travels, to more profound reflections and shared visions of art, family, and grief.
1. Hvordan finder en ung københavner sit livs kærlighed i Skotland?
Kærlighedsfortællingen mellem Carl og Ottilia Jacobsen begynder mere end 1.000 km væk fra, hvor du står.
De unge turtelduer mødte hinanden i 1868 i Edinburgh, Skotland, under en af Carls utallige udenlandsrejser som brygger. Ottilia var datter af Lorenz Carl Stegmann og Margrethe Louise Marie Brummer – en dansk købmandsfamilie bosiddende i Edinburgh. Mødet blev begyndelsen på en kærlighedshistorie af de helt særlige slags.
Bryggerfamilien Jacobsen rummede to meget forskellige kærlighedshistorier. Carls far og grundlægger af Carlsberg, J.C. Jacobsen, og hans hustru Laura Jacobsens ægteskab fremstår mere køligt og pligtbetonet. J.C. Jacobsen var kompromisløs og optaget af bryggeriet, samfundet og forskning, mens Laura ofte stod i skyggen på trods af, at flere mener, hun var hjertet i organisationen og grunden til, at J.C.’s livsværk lykkedes. Der findes få vidnesbyrd om varme eller lidenskab mellem de to.
Carl og Ottilia Jacobsen var derimod et passioneret par. Bevarede brevkorrespondancer mellem parret røber et særligt bånd og hengivenhed. Fra deres spæde forelskelse med korte glimt af længsel under Carls rejser, til dybe refleksioner og visioner om kunst, familie og sorg.
2. From love letters to wedding bells.
The cast of Ottilia's hand, right in front of you, was commissioned by Carl after their wedding in 1874 as a tribute to his wife. But before wedding bells and vows, let us turn to their early courtship and the proposal. Read, for example, this extract from a love letter written by a young Ottilia to Carl on 18 March 1874:
"Dear Mr Jacobsen,
You cannot imagine how happy I was to receive your letter. (…) It is difficult for me, for I am still young – almost like a child – and I simply cannot hide my feelings. I am so grateful to you for not believing me to be a heartless flirt; I certainly am not.
I must also admit that over the past six to eight months, I may have grown far too fond of you – for my own peace of mind – yet at the same time, I have realised how much love truly demands.
Once again, thank you for your letter. It is written straight from the heart, without the slightest consideration. I cannot bring myself to say goodbye - it is the worst word in the world.
Ottilia."
The many letters exchanged witness the intimate and extraordinary bond between Carl and Ottilia throughout their lives. Finding a letter without an affectionate turn of phrase is almost impossible. One exception is a note sent only days before the one above, in which Ottilia had angered Carl and spoke harshly of herself:
"You don't know how horrible I am. I wish you were not angry with me, it makes me so miserable I dare say you will hate me now (…) I wish I could die and then I would be only a grievance to other people and myself."
Melodramatic, perhaps, was young Ottilia – but their wedding date reveals that the lovers soon reconciled. Six months after her letter was sent, the couple stood in Garnisons Church in central Copenhagen, where the bells rang out on 24 September to celebrate their marriage. Ottilia was only 23 years old, while Carl was 32.
Carl had asked for Ottilia's hand on the Great Prayer Day in 1874, following an evening gathering at Carlsberg attended by, among others, Ottilia's parents. The proposal occurred outside the garden (today known as Carl's Garden), where the couple would later build their home.
Few details survive about the wedding itself, but we do know that Provost Hall from Frederiksberg conducted the ceremony, that the wedding party was held in Ottilia's father's home in Dronningens Tværgade in Copenhagen, and that the newlyweds honeymooned in Dresden.
2. Fra kærestebreve til kirkeklokker.
Afstøbningen af Ottilias hånd lige foran dig fik Carl lavet efter deres bryllup i 1874 som en hyldest til sin hustru. Men inden vi når til bryllup og kirkeklokker, skal vi se nærmere på den spæde forelskelse og frieriet. Læs bare dette uddrag fra et kærestebrev fra en ung Ottilia til Carl fra 18. marts 1874:
“Kære hr. Jacobsen,
Du ved ikke, hvor glad jeg blev for dit brev. (...) Du kan tro, det er svært for mig, for jeg er stadig ung – næsten som et barn – og jeg kan slet ikke skjule mine følelser. Jeg er jer så taknemmelig for, at du ikke tror, jeg er en hjerteløs flirt; det er jeg bestemt ikke.
Jeg må også indrømme, at jeg gennem de sidste seks-otte måneder måske har lært at holde alt for meget af dig – for min egen sindsro – men samtidig har jeg indset, hvor meget kærlighed virkelig kræver.
Endnu en gang tak for dit brev. Dette er skrevet direkte fra hjertet, uden den mindste overvejelse. Jeg kan slet ikke sige farvel – det er det værste ord i verden.
- Ottilia.”
De mange brevkorrespondancer vidner om en helt særlig og intim kommunikation mellem Carl og Ottilia gennem hele deres liv, hvor det er noget nær umuligt at opstøve et brev uden en kærlig vending om hinanden. Det skulle dog lige være med undtagelse af et brev sendt et par dage før det ovenstående, hvor Ottilia har gjort Carl meget vred og skriver dårligt om sig selv:
“You don’t know how horrible I am. I wish you were not angry with me, it makes me so miserable I dare say you will hate me now (...) I wish I could die and then I would be only a grievance to other people and myself.”
Melodramatisk var hun den unge Ottilia, men deres bryllupsdato røber dog, at de to unge elskende overvandt skænderiet. Seks måneder efter Ottilias brev var sendt, stod parret i Garnisonskirken i indre København, hvor kirkeklokkerne bimlede til deres bryllup d. 24. september. Ottilia var dengang kun 23 år gammel, mens Carl var 32.
Carl havde bedt om Ottilias hånd på Store Bededag 1874 efter et aftenselskab med blandt andre Ottilias forældre på Carlsberg. Frieriet foregik udenfor i den have (i dag Carls Have), hvor parret senere rejste deres bolig.
Der findes ikke mange detaljer om brylluppet, men vi ved, at provst Hall fra Frederiksberg viede dem, at bryllupsfesten blev holdt i Ottilias fars bolig i Dronningens Tværgade, og at de var på bryllupsrejse i Dresden.
3. Explore more amazing pages from the book here.
The book in front of you is filled with delicate watercolours, reflecting Carl and Ottilia’s love for each other and art.
Throughout their life together, art was their shared passion, both in private and public spheres. Next to their villa on Valby Hill, they built a Glyptotek to house their growing collection. When it outgrew its walls, the couple donated the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek to the city of Copenhagen so that everyone could experience the works. We will return to this at a later point in the exhibition.
Within the book, the most significant milestones of Carl Jacobsen’s life are depicted in watercolour – naturally with the New Carlsberg Brewery featuring prominently. Here, for example, are two images from the Carlsberg grounds.
3. Se flere smukke sider i bogen her.
Bogen foran dig er fuld af smukke akvareller og afspejler Carl og Ottilias kærlighed til hinanden og til kunsten. Gennem hele deres parforhold var kunsten deres passion både privat og i det offentlige rum. I forlængelse af deres private villa på Valby Bakke opførte de et Glyptotek til deres voksende kunstsamling, og da den voksede ud af rammerne, donerede parret Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek til København, så alle kunne opleve værkerne. Det dykker vi ned i i et senere nedslag.
I bogen fik Ottilia malet de største milepæle i Carl Jacobsens liv, hvor Ny Carlsberg Bryggeriet selvfølgelig fylder en del. Se bl.a. disse to billeder fra Carlsberg-området.
4. A family drama like no other.
After Carl Jacobsen returned home from a study trip in Europe, J.C. Jacobsen allowed his son to brew his own beer in a new annexe at Carlsberg, which began New Carlsberg. Carl quickly optimised the brewing process and reduced the beer’s ageing time, and within just ten years, his sales surpassed his father’s at Old Carlsberg.
However, the success created conflict. Carl sold beer under the Carlsberg name, but his shorter ageing process contrasted with his father’s ideals. J.C. Jacobsen denied him access to parts of the brewery, tried to change the name of Carl’s new brewery, and secured the rights to the labels. He even initiated a lawsuit against his son, which J.C. Jacobsen ultimately lost. The dispute between father and son was long-lasting and only ended in reconciliation shortly before J.C. Jacobsen died in 1887.
The conflict between the two brewers had significant consequences for the rest of the Jacobsen family - including Laura, Ottilia, and the grandchildren. Laura tried unsuccessfully to mediate during her son’s and husband’s conflicts. Nevertheless, she still visited Carl and Ottilia’s home. Only Carl and Ottilia no longer went to Old Carlsberg.
Books describe that Ottilia felt it was her duty to stand by her husband’s side: “No matter how quietly the heart’s feelings remained with the father-in-law.”
J.C. still held a place in Ottilia’s heart. An old excerpt from an interview with Carl and Ottilia’s daughter, Theodora, bears witness to how the grandchildren missed their grandfather during the dispute:
“We children had a happy home with our father and mother,” Mrs. Vøgg says when asked to share memories from her childhood and the years at Carlsberg. “Father could seem strict, but he was also fair and always tried to be so. I never heard mother and father quarrel. Her influence on him was great—she knew how to temper his sometimes stubborn nature.”
“I was born here at the Middle Brewery, and I was only three years old when father and grandfather fell out with each other. It is no secret that they stood very irreconcilably opposed to one another for many years, because they had such different ideas about how a brewery should be run. They were two ‘tough nuts,’ both convinced they were right. We children missed grandfather and grandmother, whom we hardly knew, but were still curious to be with. It was also a sorrow for the mother that the relationship was so poor, but the father could not be persuaded.”
4. En familiestrid udover det sædvanlige.
Da Carl Jacobsen vendte hjem fra en studierejse i Europa, efter at have studeret bryggeteknikker, gav J.C. Jacobsen sønnen mulighed for at brygge hans egen øl i en ny sidebygning på Carlsberg, som blev begyndelsen for Ny Carlsberg. Carl optimerede hurtigt bryggeprocessen og reducerede lagringstiden for øl og på blot ti år overgik hans salg faderens på Gamle Carlsberg.
Men succesen skabte konflikt. Carl solgte øl under Carlsberg-navnet, men hans kortere lagringsproces stod i kontrast til faderens idealer. J.C. Jacobsen nægtede ham adgang til dele af bryggeriet, forsøgte at ændre navnet på Carls nye bryggeri og sikre sig rettighederne til etiketterne. Han indledte endda en retssag mod sin egen søn, som J.C. Jacobsen endte med at tabe. Striden mellem far og søn blev langvarig og endte først i forsoning kort før J.C. Jacobsens død i 1887.
Striden mellem de to bryggere havde stor betydning for resten af Jacobsen-familien - herunder Laura, Ottilia og børnebørnene. Laura forsøgte forgæves at mægle under sønnen og mandens strid. Hun besøgte dog stadig Carl og Ottilias hus. Det var kun Carl og Ottilia, der ikke kom på Gamle Carlsberg mere. Det står beskrevet i bøger, at Ottilia følte det som en pligt at stå ved sin mands side “Hvor meget end hjertets stille følelser kunne forblive hos svigerfaderen”. J.C. var stadig i Ottilias hjerte. Et gammelt uddrag fra et interview med Carl og Ottilias datter Thedora, vidner om, at børnebørnene savnede deres farfar under striden:
”Vi børn havde et lykkeligt hjem hos far og mor,” fortæller fru Vøgg, da vi beder hende dele minder fra barndommen og årene på Carlsberg. ”Far kunne virke streng, men han var også retfærdig og forsøgte altid at være det. Jeg har aldrig hørt mor og far skændes. Hendes indflydelse på ham var meget stor – hun forstod at mildne hans til tider stædige sind.”
”Jeg er født herude på Mellembryggeriet, og jeg var kun tre år gammel, da far og bedstefar brød med hinanden. Det er jo ingen hemmelighed, at de i mange år stod meget uforsonligt over for hinanden, fordi de havde så forskellige opfattelser af, hvordan et bryggeri skulle drives. De var to ’hårde negle’, begge overbevist om, at de havde ret. Vi børn savnede bedstefar og bedstemor, som vi egentlig næsten ikke kendte, men alligevel var nysgerrige efter at være sammen med. Det var også en sorg for mor, at forholdet var så dårligt, men far lod sig ikke overtale på det punkt.”
5. Get your tissues ready and learn more about Carl and Ottilia's greatest joys and sorrows.
Carl and Ottilia had eight children. Four grew up: Theodora, Helge, Vagn, and Paula. Four died of various childhood illnesses: Alf, Beatrice, Erland, and Thorvald. They all passed away within just three years, which led the grieving parents to tear down their entire home on Valby Bakke and build a new one - perhaps as an attempt to move forward. If one can ever truly do that.
The eldest son, Alf, lived to be ten years old. In a heart-wrenching document, Carl Jacobsen describes his eldest son’s death struggle with scarlet fever - his fevers, his final thoughts, and his questions about the Greek gods, and whether there might be a telephone in the Eiffel Tower.
“He looks so tormented and suffering, the poor boy, that it goes through my marrow and bones to watch him. He has been a beloved son, and in his short life, he has given us nothing but joy and hope… he enjoyed going to the brewery and watching what he was allowed to do… he was my greatest hope and a pure character… he was, as I could wish, a son! Yesterday, he asked whether his little deceased siblings were angels.”
Read the words of a grieving father in full - Just find a quiet spot after the exhibition and remember the tissues.
Carl and Ottilia commemorated their children in the art and architecture of their home. Outside the private residence, they named the four iconic stone elephants at Carlsberg Brewery after each of their living children. Each deceased had a church bell named after them in the Church of Jesus, which Carl built, and where the family rests today. Above the family crypt, these words are inscribed in gold: “Overcome evil with good.”
And though grief may not be overcome, it can be accompanied by what is good: love. These were harsh times, and this is harsh reading, so let us end with Carl missing his seven-year-old daughter on summer vacation in Hellebæk, North Zealand. In 1897, he wrote to Paula - affectionately nicknamed ‘Puma’:
“…and then I hope it will not be long before I can come out to you and see you and hug you and turn you upside down and kiss you, you my very own little puma.”
Love endures.
5. Find Kleenex frem og lær mere om Carl og Ottilias største sorg og glæde.
Carl og Ottilia fik otte børn. Fire voksede op: Theodora, Helge, Vagn og Paula. Fire døde af forskellige børnesygdomme: Alf, Beatrice, Erland og Thorvald. De gik alle bort inden for kun tre år, hvilket fik de sørgende forældre til at rive hele hjemmet på Valby Bakke ned og opføre et nyt. Måske som et forsøg på at komme videre. Hvis man nogensinde kan det.
Den ældste søn, Alf, blev ti år. I et hjerteskærende dokument beskriver Carl Jacobsen sin ældste søns dødskamp mod skarlagensfeber, hans feberkramper, hans sidste tanker og spørgsmål om græske guder, og om der mon findes en telefon i Eiffeltårnet?
”Han ser så forpint og lidende ud, den stakkels dreng, at det går mig gennem marv og ben at se på ham. Han har været en elskelig søn, og i sit korte liv har han kun givet os glæde og håb… det morede ham at gå i bryggeriet og se på, hvad han kunne få lov til… han var mit bedste håb og en ren karakter… han var, som jeg kunne ønske, en søn! I går spurgte han, om hans små, afdøde søskende var engle.”
Læs ordene fra en far i sorg i den fulde længde her – men find et roligt sted efter udstillingen og husk Kleenex.
Carl og Ottilia mindedes deres børn i kunsten og arkitekturen i hjemmet – og uden for privaten fik de fire ikoniske stenelefanter ved Carls bryggeri hvert et navn efter de levende børn. De afdøde fik hver en kirkeklokke opkaldt efter sig i Jesuskirken, som Carl opførte, og hvor familien hviler i dag. Over gravkrypten står disse ord i guld: Overvind det onde med det gode.
Og nok skal sorg ikke overvindes, men ledsages af det gode: kærligheden. For det var barske tider, og det er barsk læsning, så lad os slutte af med Carl, der savner sin syv-årige datter på sommerferie i Hellebæk, Nordsjælland. Her skriver han i 1897 til Paula – med det fine kælenavn ’puma’:
”… og så håber jeg, at det ikke må vare for længe til, at jeg kan komme ud til dig og se dig og kramme dig og vende op og ned på dig og kysse dig, du min egen pumaunge.”
Kærligheden består.
6. Find the taste of love right here.
We have found three love-themed beers for you from the bottle collection of more than 22,000 unopened bottles. Two of them can be found in the collection. Enter their names on the digital screens and go for a hunt.
Albani Wedding Brew, Albani Breweries, 1987.
With daisies in her bouquet, wearing a champagne-colored silk wedding gown with a five-meter train, Princess Margrethe of Denmark arrived at Holmen Church in Copenhagen. On June 10, 1967, she married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. A lifelong love had begun. Twenty years later, Albani Breweries commemorated the royal couple’s wedding anniversary with this beer in French colours and a golden crown.
The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, Ørbæk Brewery, 2005.
H.C. Andersen wrote the iconic fairy tale about the two porcelain figures who dream of love and adventure. On the author’s 200th birthday occasion, the Funen-based Ørbæk Brewery brewed this top-fermented anniversary beer. A fun fact: the fairy tale author was a guest of J.C. and Laura Jacobsen, who gathered the leading scientists and artists of the time at their villa on Valby Bakke for truly remarkable dinner events.
The Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer Strong Lager, Ind Coope Ltd., 1981.
When Prince Charles made Lady Di the Princess of Wales, a lager was brewed in Wales. The wedding was grand, the marriage a disaster, but the UK and the rest of the world fell head over heels for Diana, the people’s princess. Today, King Charles is finally married to his true love, Queen Camilla—a love triangle we won’t go into here in the bottle collection. But that’s love, too: messy. Unruly. Genuine. Cheers to that.
6. Find smagen af kærlighed lige her.
Vi har fundet tre kærlighedsøl til jer fra flaskesamlingen med mere end 22.000 uåbnede flasker. To af dem kan du finde i flaskesamlingen. Indtast dem på de digitale skærme og se dem i levende live.
Albani Bryllups Bryg, Albani Bryggerierne, 1987.
Med margeritter i buketten, i en brudekjole af champagnefarvet helsilke og et slæb på fem meter ankom prinsesse Margrethe af Danmark til Holmens kirke i København. Her giftede hun sig den 10. juni 1967 med Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. En livslang kærlighed var begyndt. 20 år efter hyldede Albani Bryggerierne regentparrets bryllupsdag med denne øl i franske farver og guldkrone.
Hyrdinden og skorstensfejeren, Ørbæk Bryggeri, 2005.
H.C. Andersen skrev det ikoniske eventyr om de to porcelænsfigurer, der drømmer om kærlighed og eventyr, og i anledning af forfatterens 200 års-fødselsdag, bryggede det fynske Ørbæk Bryggeri denne overgærede jubilæumsøl. Et fun fact er, at eventyrforfatteren var gæst hos J.C. og Laura Jacobsen, der samlede datidens videnskabsfolk og kunstnere i villaen på Valby Bakke til ok vidunderlige middagsarrangementer.
The Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer Strong Lager, Ind Coope Ltd., 1981.
En lager brygget i Wales, da prins Charles gjorde lady Di til prinsesse af Wales. Brylluppet var storslået, ægteskabet en katastrofe, men både Storbritannien og resten af verden forelskede sig hovedkuls i Diana, folkets prinsesse. I dag er kong Charles endelig gift med sin sande kærlighed, dronning Camilla; et trekantsdrama, vi ikke kommer ind på lige her i flaskesamlingen. Men sådan er kærligheden også. Rodet. Ustyrlig. Ægte. Skål for den.
7. Before the digital age, there were real love letters. Read them here.
Today, we are only a click away from each other. We are available every second of the day, all around the world. But once, hearts in longing had to wait a long time for a reply.
Throughout their lives, Ottilia and Carl Jacobsen wrote countless letters to each other from their travels across Europe. Some were desperate, others full of love, and many were concerned with everyday life and family matters. Across the letters, an evident love shines through in their careful handwriting. Just take these two examples:
One August day, shortly before their wedding, a 20-year-old Ottilia writes to Carl in Stockholm:
“Dear Carl, I feel that it has already been such a long time since I last spoke with you… May I nevertheless send you a heartfelt greeting and a good morning kiss? I have followed you all the way to Stockholm in my thoughts and look forward to you feeling well among all these wise minds.”
In their (artistic) love, the couple used owls, parrots, cockatoos, and pelicans in their home as symbols of themselves and their passion. With
that bird metaphor in mind, Carl wrote to Ottilia, who had travelled to Edinburgh in the summer of 1902:
“I look forward to seeing you again soon. It is indeed comforting to look at the owl in the attic and the parrot on the wall by your room, and at the vase in the dining room, but you are not there - the rooms are very empty.”
Only two days later, he sent this lonely parrot. ‘Alone’ is written at the bottom. A longing in full bloom across borders.
7. Før den digitale tidsalder fandtes ægte kærestebreve. Læs dem her.
I dag er vi kun et klik væk fra hinanden. Vi er tilgængelige hvert sekund døgnet og jorden rundt. Men engang måtte hjerter i længsel vente længe på svar.
Gennem deres liv skrev Ottilia og Carl Jacobsen massevis af breve til hinanden fra deres rejser rundt om i Europa. Nogle var fortvivlede, andre var forelskede, mange handlede om dagligdagen, familielivet. På tværs af brevene skinner en tydelig kærlighed igennem den sirlige skrift. Læs bare disse to eksempler:
En augustdag kort før brylluppet skriver en 20-årig Ottilia til Carl i Stockholm:
”Kære Carl. Jeg synes, at det allerede er så frygtelig længe siden, jeg har talt med dig… må jeg sende dig alligevel en hjertelig hilsen og godmorgenkys. Jeg har fulgt dig hele vejen til Stockholm i mine tanker og glæder mig til, at du skal have det godt iblandt alle disse kloge hoveder.”
I deres (kunstneriske) kærlighed brugte parret både ugler, papegøjer, kakaduer og pelikaner i hjemmet som symbol på dem hver især og deres kærlighed. Med den fugle-metafor in mente skrev Carl til Ottilia, der rejste til Edinburgh i sommeren 1902:
”Jeg glæder mig til, at nu skal jeg snart se dig igen. Det er godt nok at se på uglen på loftet og papegøjen på væggen ved dit værelse og på vasen i spisestuen, men du er der ikke, værelserne er tomme – meget tomme.”
Kun to dage senere sendte han denne ensomme papegøje. ’Alone’ står der nederst. Et savn i frit flor over landegrænserne.
8. Take a sneak peek into Carl and Ottilia's private home, filled with a love of art.
Carl Jacobsen was not only a skilled brewer but also a passionate art collector and patron. Fortunately, he shared this passion with the love of his life, Ottilia. Together, they built an impressive collection of artworks, created out of a passion for aesthetics and for each other.
In 1882, the couple established their own Glyptotek on Valby Bakke, next to their private villa. This private collection, filled to the brim with art from all over the world in every genre, later became the foundation for the construction of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which now lies at the heart of Copenhagen. Their private collection included everything from statues of Danish queens to works inspired by Nordic mythology, wall paintings of family members, and antique sculptures.
Not only was the original Glyptotek packed with art from all over the world, it also contained plenty of symbols of love in its historic halls, their private villa, and the adjoining garden. Carl’s dedication and tributes to Ottilia can, for instance, be seen in a beautiful mosaic floor in their original Glyptotek. Here, small tiles form a thistle -the national flower of Scotland, which Ottilia loved dearly. It appears in several places throughout their art collection.
Outside, in their then-private garden, stands a sculpture of a pelican with its beak pointing downward, Ottilia’s name inscribed on the column. Symbolically, a pelican pierces its own breast to feed its young - a gesture of ultimate self-sacrifice. A profound acknowledgement from Carl of Ottilia as a mother and woman.
Numerous details in their private villa testify to the great love and respect Carl had for Ottilia and their marriage. From their monogram on the front door and handles, adorned with small hearts, to a plaque featuring Ottilia’s profile, created after her death.
8. Smugkig i Carl og Ottilias private hjem fyldt med kærlighed til kunsten.
Carl Jacobsen var ikke kun en dygtig brygger, han var også en lidenskabelig kunstsamler og kunstgiver. Heldigvis delte han passionen med sit livs kærlighed, Ottilia. Sammen byggede de en imponerende samling af kunstværker, skabt af passion for æstetik og for hinanden.
Her på Valby Bakke, ved siden af deres private villa, opførte parret deres eget Glyptotek i 1882 fyldt til randen med alverdens kunst i alle genrer. En kunstsamling, der senere blev udgangspunktet for opførelsen af Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, er ligger i centrum af København. Deres private samling indeholdt alt lige fra statuer af danske dronninger over værker med nordisk mytologi som tema til vægmalerier af familiemedlemmer og antikke statuer.
Ikke nok med, at det oprindelige Glyptotek var proppet med alverdens kunst, var der også masser af kærlighedssymbolik i de historiske sale, deres private villa og den tilstødende have. Carls dedikation og hyldester til Ottilia kan bl.a. ses i et smukt mosaikgulv i deres oprindelige Glyptotek. Her former de små fliser en tidsel, som er Skotlands nationalblomst, og som Ottilia var meget glad for. Den er afbilledet adskillige steder i deres kunstsamling.
Udenfor i deres dengang private have står en skulptur af en pelikan, der vender næbbet nedad med Ottilias navn på søjlen. Symbolsk, da en pelikan hakker sig selv i brystet for at fodre sine børn, der må siges at være den ultimative selvopofrelse. En stor anerkendelse fra Carl af Ottilia som mor og kvinde.
I deres private villa er der også masser af detaljer, der vidner om stor kærlighed og respekt for Ottilia og deres ægteskab. Alt fra deres monogram på hoveddøren og håndtagene sammen med små hjerter til en plakette med Ottilias profil, fremstillet efter hendes død.
9. Discover the iconic contributions that Carl and Ottilia made to Copenhagen and its people.
Look to the end of this little art avenue; here sits a smaller version of Copenhagen’s most famous landmark: The Little Mermaid. Carl Jacobsen donated the original to the city, where it has faithfully welcomed visitors since 1913.
As previously described, Carl Jacobsen was a generous patron of the arts. He donated nearly 100 sculptures through his art foundation, Albertina, to make art accessible to everyone, high and low, rich and poor. The sculptures still stand in the capital today.
While art in the 19th century often remained within elite circles, Carl Jacobsen went in the opposite direction, making it freely available to the community. This was achieved through two groundbreaking initiatives:
In 1888, he and Ottilia founded the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, to which they donated large parts of their private art collections. A place that, then as now, allows everyone to experience art in stunning surroundings.
In 1902, the couple established the Ny Carlsberg Foundation, a private and independent fund with a grand vision of strengthening art in society and making it accessible to the broadest possible audience. The goal was - and remains today—to promote the significance of art because art enriches our lives and the world.
Carl and Ottilia Jacobsen believed the power of art and beauty belonged to the community. The joy of art enriches people, regardless of class or gender. This philosophy is beautifully expressed in a speech Carl Jacobsen gave in 1906:
“…living art belongs to the living people! But it should not be the property of the rich alone; it should equally bring joy to the common man, so that he too can appreciate the power of beauty.
Therefore, it should be placed where people walk and see it daily. A good start has been made at City Hall, but let us not stop there—let schools, hospitals, churches, all public buildings, gardens, and parks receive the art that suits them. Let art ennoble our city, and it will ennoble our lives.”
And so it does - The Little Mermaid and the city’s other artworks. Day after day, they follow us daily and make us richer. The same is true of the Little Mermaid’s little sister here at the Home of Carlsberg.
9. Hvilke københavnske ikoner står Carl og Ottilia bag? Læs med her.
Kig for enden af denne lille kunstallé; her sidder en mindre udgave af Københavns mest kendte vartegn: Den lille Havfrue. Carl Jacobsen skænkede originalen til byen, hvor den har siddet trofast og budt velkommen siden 1913.
Carl Jacobsen var som beskrevet tidligere en gavmild kunstgiver. Han donerede næsten 100 skulpturer via sit kunstlegat Albertina for at gøre kunsten tilgængelig for alle, høj som lav, rig som fattig. Skulpturerne står stadig her i hovedstaden den dag i dag.
Hvor kunsten i 1800-tallet oftest foregik i elitens luftlag, gik Carl Jacobsen i modsatte retning og satte den fri til fællesskabet. Det skete blandt andet gennem to banebrydende initiativer:
1: I 1888 stiftede han og Ottilia Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek i København, hvortil de donerede store dele af deres private kunstsamlinger. Et sted, der dengang som i dag giver alle mulighed for at opleve kunsten i ekstraordinært smukke omgivelser.
2: Parret oprettede i 1902 Ny Carlsbergfondet. En privat og uafhængig fond med store visioner om at styrke kunsten i samfundet og gøre den tilgængelig for det bredest mulige publikum. Målet var – og er i dag – at fremme kunstens betydning, fordi kunsten beriger vores liv og verden.
Carl og Ottilia Jacobsen troede på kunstens og skønhedens magt tilhørte fællesskabet. At kunstglæden gør mennesket rigere – uanset klasse og køn. Filosofien er så fint beskrevet i en tale, Carl Jacobsen holdt i 1906:
”…den levende kunst hører det levende folk til! Men den skal nu heller ikke være den rige mands eje alene, den skal ligeså meget være til glæde for menigmand, at også han fornemmer skønhedens magt. Derfor skal den anbringes, hvor folk færdes og daglig har den for øje. En god begyndelse er gjort på Rådhuset, men lad os ikke blive stående derved, lad skoler, sygehuse, kirker, alle offentlige bygninger, haver, og anlæg få den kunst, som passer for dem. Lad Kunsten adle vor by, så vil den adle vort liv.”
Og det gør Den lille Havfrue og resten af byens kunstværker. Dag efter dag følger de med i vores hverdagsliv og gør os rigere. Det samme gør Den lille Havfrues lillesøster her hos Home of Carlsberg.
10. Looking for love? Go hunting for hearts at Home of Carlsberg
Haven’t gone on the heart-hunt in the exhibition yet? Then scroll to the top and discover the lovely love stories from Carlsberg.
Have you completed the heart hunt in the exhibition? Then we hope you were captivated by Carl and Ottilia’s passionate love story. Remember, our article universe has many more fascinating stories about Carlsberg HERE.
Cheers to love!
10. På jagt efter kærligheden? Se mere om hjertejagten hos Home of Carlsberg.
Har du ikke været på hjertejagt i udstillingen? Så scroll helt op til toppen og få de fine kærlighedshistorier fra Carlsberg.
Har du gennemført hjertejagten i udstillingen? Så håber vi, du blev opslugt af Carl og Ottilias lidenskabelige kærlighedsfortælling. Husk, der er mange flere fascinerende fortællinger om Carlsberg i vores artikel-univers HER.
Skål for kærligheden!