Copenhagen National Gallery Prepares DKK 70.5 Million Renovation

Copenhagen visitors will soon see more art at Statens Museum for Kunst. The national gallery announced a major renovation of its Sølvgade facility. CPH Post reported the project details. The project costs 70.5 million Danish kroner. Foundation grants fully finance the entire renovation effort. Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond provided 15 million Danish kroner. Ny Carlsbergfondet donated another 8 million Danish kroner.

The renovation will help the museum display more of its 200,000 artworks. Staff will retrieve pieces currently stored in castles and government ministries. Many featured artworks have rarely appeared in public before. Architects will respect the original 1896 building designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup. The work will improve physical accessibility for all visitors. New layouts will help guests find their way through the museum easily.

Director Astrid la Cour wants visitors to feel connected to the collection. The museum will open new exhibitions in stages between 2027 and 2029. The displays cover three areas including European and Nordic art. The first stage focuses on European art from 1300 to 1800. About half of these European works were rarely shown before. Displays include Susanna in the Bath by Dutch artist Godefridus Schalcken. The second stage highlights Danish and Nordic art from 1750 to 1900. This includes August Jerndorff's 1894 Portrait of Marie Oppermann.