lly called, was accustomed during his youth to assist his
father in his labours on the wharf. At an early age he visited the
Academy at Copenhagen, where his genius soon began to make itself
conspicuous. At the age of sixteen he had won a silver, and at twenty a
gold medal. Two years later he carried off the "great" gold medal, and
was sent to study abroad at the expense of the Academy. In 1797 we find
him practising his art at Rome under the eye of Zoega the Dane, who does
not, however, seem to have discovered indications of extraordinary genius
in the labours of his young countryman. But a work was soon to appear
which should set all questions as to Thorwaldsen's talent for ever at
rest. In 1801 he produced his celebrated statue of "Jason," which was at
once pronounced by the great Canova to be "a work in a new and a grand
style." After this period the path of fame lay open before the young
sculptor; his bas-reliefs of "Summer" and "Autumn," the "Dance of the
Muses," "Cupid and Psyche," and numerous other works, followed each other
in rapid succession; and at length, in 1812, Thorwaldsen produced his
extraordinary work, "The Triumph of Alexander." In 1819 Thorwaldsen
returned rich and famous to the city he had quitted as a youth
twenty-three years before; he was received with great honour, and many
feasts and rejoicings were held to celebrate his arrival. After a
sojourn of a year Thorwaldsen again visited Rome, where he continued his
labours until 1838, when, wealthy and independent, he resolved to rest in
his native country. This time his welcome to Copenhagen was even more
enthusiastic than in 1819. The whole shore was lined with spectators,
and amid thundering acclamations the horses were unharnessed from his
carriage, and the sculptor was drawn in triumph by the people to his
_atelier_. During the remainder of his life Thorwaldsen passed much of
his time on the island of Nyso, where most of his latest works were
executed. On Sunday, March 9th, 1842, he had been conversing with a
circle of friends in perfect health. Halm's tragedy of _Griselda_ was
announced for the evening, and Thorwaldsen proceeded to the theatre to
witness the performance. During the overture he rose to allow a stranger
to pass, then resumed his seat, and a moment afterwards his head sunk on
his breast--he was dead!

His funeral was most sumptuous. Rich and poor united to do honour to the
memory of the great man, who had endeared