Bust of Queen Lovisa, 1894

Marble bust of Queen Lovisa, made by Vilhelm Bissen in 1894 as a wedding present to Frederik VIII.

Inspired by French naturalism, Vilhelm Bissen was one of the first to introduce naturalistic observation into his idiom. He is known for a number of distinctive works in Copenhagen, for example the equestrian statue of Bishop Absalon on Højbro Square, the statue of Christian IV at Nyboder, and not least the Stork Fountain. The last named was in fact also unveiled in 1894 on the occasion of the royal silver jubilee, as the fountain was the winning entry in a competition run by the ‘Society for the Beautification of Copenhagen’ with the aim of contributing to the silver jubilee celebrations with a new feature in the urban space.