Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum, Rome
The Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the famous sculptor and architect, author of the "City of Peace” concept. It is located in the walls of the former villa of the master, and it was built in the 1920s according to his own design.
Who is Hendrik Andersen
Hendrik Andersen was born in 1872 in Norway. When the future architect was only two years old, his family emigrated to America, where he grew up. When the master turned 20 – he went on a trip to Europe and eventually settled in Rome, where he lived most of his life and died at the age of 68 years, in 1940.
Andersen built his palace-villa in Neo-renaissance style on Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini. After his death he bequeathed it to Rome. For many years, reconstruction work was carried out to transform the villa into a museum. Hendrik Christian Andersen's house-museum opened its doors for visitors for the first time in 1999.
In addition to the work of the artist, Andersen actively developed the idea of creating a city of Peace – an ideal place, headed by art – this was supposed to become a place of universal harmony. Hendrik Christian believed that in this place people will be imbued with high and bright ideas and will try to constantly improve themselves.
Exhibits of the Hendrik Andersen Museum
As one of the stimulators of self-improvement, Andersen chose a sculpture and began working on creating statues for the New City. These exhibits are represented in the master's house museum. Basically, the sculptures are made in the nude style. Women and men, young men and women, athletes and dancers have frozen in the most strange and even unexpected poses. Visitors note the similarity of Andersen's style with the creations of Michelangelo and Mussolini.
In different years, the attitude towards the master's works was ambiguous, someone admired them, others did not understand them and perceived them to be abnormal. However, it is worth noting that the glory overtook the sculptor in Rome.
In addition to sculptures, the exposition of the museum is full of:
- architectural projects;
- graphical works;
- sketches of the cities of the world;
- paintings;
- photos;
- archival documents;
- books;
- personal things;
- objects of everyday life;
- letters, including correspondence with the writer Henry James, a close friend of Andersen.
Also on the basis of the museum, numerous exhibitions and performances are held.
How to get there
The Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum is located in the historic part of Rome, on the banks of the Tiber River. You can get here by public transport:
- Bus № 40, 60, 64, 87, 490, 628.
- Tram № 19.
- Metro station "Flaminio".
Opening hours:
- 09:30 to 19:30 (Tuesday-Sunday).
- Monday is the day off.
