Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen in Denmark is a museum of art with a world-class collection of over 10,000 works from the ancient world.

History of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded in 1888 by the brewer Carl Jacobsen – the man who made Carlsberg beer known worldwide. Jacobsen was a passionate collector of all things art-related, and decided to bequeath his collection to the public, building the Glyptotek to house his items. In 1899, he donated his collection of antiquities, leading to a whole extra wing opening.

The Glyptotek was designed to be a place of pleasure – somewhere people could come, removing themselves from the outside world and simply enjoying the beauty and aesthetics of art.

A new wing was added in 1996, and all of the galleries were thoroughly modernised in 2004-6.

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek today

6000 years of Mediterranean art and history
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek collection of antiquities has a wide selection of art and artefacts, allowing the visitor to enjoy delightful, thought-provoking strolls through 6000 years of art and history, including the Ancient Near East, Ancient Greece and Egypt, Greek and Etruscan Italy and, finally, Rome.

Explore ‘The Ancient Mediterranean’
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek includes newly restored galleries with works of art ranging from the early high cultures of the Middle East to the fall of the Roman Empire. Of particular note is the collection of Roman artefacts, including a host of ancient marble sculptures and statues gathered from sites across the Roman world and covering everything from 600BC to 500AD. Included within this collection are finds from important Roman villas as well as the rich Palmyrene selection from the Roman city of Palmyra – it is one of the largest such collections outside Syria and includes remarkable funerary busts and grave stones. Don’t miss the bust of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus – a marble version of a bronze statue from Pompey’s own lifetime.

Impressionists and the art of Paul Gauguin
Visiting one of Denmark’s most beautiful museums you can also appreciate an important assembly of paintings by the French Impressionists, with a large gallery containing works by Monet, Sisley, Degas, van Gogh, Cézanne and many others. The Glyptotek has one of four existing complete sets of Degas’ bronze sculptures, and 45 works of art by Paul Gauguin, one of the world’s most important collections by this artist.

Visiting
The Glyptotek offers free guided tours throughout the year, however guided tours in English are generally conducted from June to September at 2pm on Wednesdays. Danish speaking tours are conducted all year round on Sundays at 2pm. There are also children’s tours.

Getting to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

The Glyptotek is in central Copenhagen, off Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard and close to the Tivoli Gardens. It’s roughly a 20 minute walk from Nyhavn, or just under a 10 minute cycle. As with everywhere in Copenhagen, there’s plenty of cycle racks close by.