Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by brewery magnate Carl Jacobsen, who donated his collection of ancient sculpture and French painting to Denmark in 1888. Jacobsen, whose family owned the Carlsberg brewery, believed art should be accessible to all citizens. The museum opened in 1897 with Jacobsen's original collection, later expanding to include his son Helge's donations. The name "glyptotek" comes from the Greek word for sculpture, reflecting the museum's original focus on ancient statuary.

The collection divides between ancient art (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan) and 19th-century French painting and sculpture. The Impressionist holdings include works by Gauguin, Degas, and Monet. The museum owns the world's largest collection of Gauguin's paintings outside France. The Winter Garden, a glass-roofed atrium with palms and a fountain, provides a peaceful space between galleries. The neoclassical building and 1996 modern extension create an architectural dialogue across centuries.