Rolighed (Østerbro)
Rolighed was a country house in what is now the Østerbro district of Copenhagen. As a regular guest of the Melchior family, Hans Christian Andersen died there in August 1875.[1]
Contents
History
Rolighed (the Danish word means "tranquility") had originally been built around 1800 as a one-storey house with a mansard and a large garden. The Jewish merchant Moritz Melchior and his wife Dorothea acquired it in the 1850s as a summer residence. In 1869, they had it completely rebuilt in the style of Rosenborg Castle with a tower and rounded Dutch gables.[2]
Hans Christian Andersen connection
Moritz and Dorothea Melchior entertained a variety of famous guests from the late 1850s when the family business really began to prosper. The most famous of these were certainly Hans Christian Andersen who was a frequent visitor, first in their home on Højbro Plads then increasingly at Rolighed where, in 1866, he was given his own room with a balcony overlooking the Øresund.[2]
Moritz' brother, Israel, a keen amateur photographer was also a frequent visitor. Andersen, who was interested in photography himself, and he became good friends with the result that Israel took many photographs of family gatherings at Rolighed together with Andersen.[3][4]
Andersen had become increasingly ill after a fall in 1872. He relied increasingly on the care the Melchiors gave him, spending long periods at Rolighed. On 12 June 1875, he arrived there for the last time. A week later he was no longer able to write his diary which instead he dictated to the Melchiors and their children. At 11 a.m. on 4 August, he died peacefully in his bed.[2]
Commemorative plaque
The house was demolished in 1898 to be replaced by today's apartment building. A plaque has been erected, commemorating Andersen's place of death. It contains two lines from a short poem by Andersen, testifying to his feelings for Rolighed:[5][6]
- Mit hjem i Hjemmet, hvor bag Hyldens Hang
- mit Liv fik Solskin og min Harpe Klang
which can be translated into English as:
- My home in the home, behind the elderflower
- Gave sunshine to my life and made my harp ring
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rolighed, Østerbro. |
References
This article draws on the Danish Wikipedia article Rolighed (Østerbro).
- ↑ "Hans Christian Andersen – FAQ", Hans Christian Andersen Center". Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Carl H. Melchior, "H.C. Andersens hjem i hjemmet - artikel fra Jødisk Orientering, marts 2005", Kulturafdelingen: H.C. Andersen 2005, Israeli Embassy, Copenhagen. (Danish) Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ "I Was Posing for The Photographer Today - Twenty Portraits of H.C. Andersen", Odense City Museums. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ↑ Nicolaj Bøgh, "H.C. Andersens sidste dage", H.C. Andersen Information. (Danish) Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ↑ Ane Grum-Schwensen, "Thank You for the Letters You Sent Me…", Odense City Museums. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ↑ "Mindetavler på Østerbro", Københavns Biblioteker. (Danish) Retrieved 11 December 2010.
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