The enigmatic collector: Helge Jacobsen's Pinacotheca

Abstract

Helge Jacobsen (1882-1946) is today unknown to most, overshadowed by his famous father, the brewer Carl Jacobsen. But as museum director and foundation chairman Helge Jacobsen has been of immeasurable importance for the arts in Denmark. He stated on several occasions that he saw it as his duty to continue the work of his father, but he also made it clear that he wanted to pursue his personal passion for modern French painting. 'The Enigmatic Collector: Helge Jacobsen's Pinacotheca' is the first exhibition to tell his story. One of the central themes of the exhibition is the creation of the Glyptotek's French painting collection, which includes works by Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas and Claude Monet, as well as Helge Jacobsen's absolute favourite, Paul Gauguin. Through astute strategic manoeuvres and in fierce competition with other contemporary collectors he created one of Denmark's most important collections of French masterpieces at the Glyptotek. This special exhibition includes a large range of these masterpieces, together with extensive and previously unexhibited archive materials, including photographs charting the life and story of Denmark's enigmatic collector, Helge Jacobsen.