Harald Jerichau
Rom (Italien)
Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann
Athen (Grækenland)
Harald Jerichau og hans bror Thorald opholder sig i Rom. Moderen, Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann, har bebrejdet dem, at de aldrig skriver. Den 18-årige Harald forsikrer, at de faktisk har sendt mange breve, som dog må være gået tabt. Han er bekymret for, at hun har følt sig forladt, men trøster sig med, at han har skrevet brevene på engelsk, og at brevskrivningen derfor har forbedret hans engelskkundskaber. Han fortæller om julen og nytåret i Rom. Brødrene blev inviteret til dansk juleaften, men festen var en skuffelse, for Harald har ikke meget til overs for danskerne i Rom. Han følte sig ensom og længtes efter både sin mor og sin forlovede, Marie Kutzner. Senere på aftenen gik han ud i natten ved Piazza del Popolo, hvor han bad og sang for familien. Nytåret fejrede han også alene ved Colosseum. Heldigvis fungerer Paulsen-familien som en slags erstatningsfamilie for brødrene, og Harald er dybt taknemmelig for Alberto Paulsens omsorg. Snart skal de besøge Paulsens sommersted ved kysten. Harald fortæller også, at hans første maleri i Rom nu er færdigt. Han betragter sin flid og sine fremskridt som den bedste julegave, han kan give sine forældre.
Rom d 7de Januar 1870
I ækle Drenge – Nu faae I Skjend for Alvor, Du kan troe det er haardt at tage imod Skjend naar man intet galt har gjordt, men tværtimod søgt at formindske din Længsel og at gjøre dig Selskab i din store Eensomhed, ved ugentlig at sende Brev ned til Dig med Beretninger om hvordan alt gaaer og med Hilsener fra Amerikanerene og Povlsens. Naturligviis kan du vel ikke troe at vi skulde have været saa slette i ca[?] 2½ Maaned ikke at have villet svare dig, eller sende dig et Par venlige Ord. I sandhed jeg er meget bedrøvet over at de alle ere gaaede tabte, ikke blot fordi du derved har været i Angst men ogsaa fordi alle mine Spørgsmaal ere blevne ubesvarede og min Tid er spildt. Hvert Brev var skrevet paa Engelsk, altsaa lidt Nytte har jeg dog havt og vil nu ogsaa i dette Brev fortsætte deri: I have in every letter written about my anxiety that you should not recieve them, and yet have they ben long and inholding notices from home, from Germany, and from all the American friends, A letter from Mss A Raaesløff arrived 4 weeks ago, and this have I together with one of my letters send poste restante to Athen. A second time send I a letter off for your bearthday and in // holding letters from Mimi and aunt Agathe, these were addressed to the consulat de norvege et Suede Rue Pera, Constantinopel, another one inholding too some news from aunt Røschen about Marie had the same address. Together (in the whole) have I send 2 Letters poste restante Constantinopel, 2 adressed to the consulat there, 1 Letter post restant to Athen and 2 to Hotel Angleterre, there. Of course must you be very anxious, and to make you quiet advised Mr Povlsen me to send a Telegram to day wich I hope that you at least have recieved. To cristmass and to newyear to your bearthday, yes every week have I send off letters with my devotion and love to you – I can not immagine what may have become with all the letters. And I myself have recieved all, all your dear letters, and am every time so happy when they come thanks dear mother thanks, that you have not got furious with us two unguilty boys is a sign of your hearty mother love and mother patience. Of course does I not expect this letter to reach you, therefor shall I not be so stupide to fill it with such a quantity off little stories as in the other ones, yet you shall hear a little about cristmass and new year here and […] shall I tell you somewhat about our dear Americans.- We had imagined // to pass the dear christmass quite alone at home together, thinking on all they dear ones, and perhaps too to pay a little visit to Mr Povlsen, this should I have liked most off all, but one can not do his own will always, an invitation from the danish arrived to spend christmass evening in eating and come to the christmasstree, I do not like to go among the danish, for I have there so many enemies, nor I have ben there since you departed, but too I should not like them to tell anything bad about me, or do any demonstration; So of course Thorald too wishing to go there and see Grieg received ve the invitation (of course we were obliged to pay 7 Frances) It was indeed a curious strange cristmasseve no one have I passed as this, so dead so full of noncense and driety Of course one met in full Galla with Schornstein and Schwalbenschwung among people whom I did not know or with whom I had no sympatie; My best friend was Alberto Povlsen we sat together and laughed at the long insensible talks, most politiks and skandinavian. I thought much on you and them at home and on my dear own Mary. I had justly recieved a letter from you and her and had got such a vainly long, but a happy long as long with hope and prayers a long after the future, returning as faithfull son and faithfull Mimis Harald Yet I could not help weep, thinking on all, all what might pass every within hearts, and thoughts. So after dinner a 9 oclock we went to the […] the first // expression was indead very fine with the green tres and the many strealing lights, but the best ornaments failed all the dear ies and the open welcome wishing hearts, the mother, father, our Sister love, and all the kisses, I thought on my youth at home, I thought on last year at that time at Schlesien with my loved Marie, I could not bear it longer, I went out in the quit, down on Piazza Popoli; The churchbells rung it was jultly 12 oclock, O! I was so happy so happy, I sung and I wept and I prayed to him our dear lord our all mighty Father that he would bless all off uss and be with us in danger and temptation and once take us up to his splendid quiet heaven, and I prayed him to strength my love to my dear parents and my Mimi and to bless me and all of uss, O! dear mother he has heard me and shall always hear his poor children when the trust and hope on him, Might he be with you on your voyage and bless you in the new year and let it pass for all without sorrows. So new year came – New years evening, to you to father and to Mimi hav I written letters. It passed too with gladness and happy in my heart, at twelw oclock justly by the the begining off the new year stood I quite alone by the old large Colloseo, it was a splended blue star sky but somewhat cold. I new Mimi was by the Pavilion and wished me a glad a happy new year, so had promised her to be at Collosio and speak in my mind with. I cried to the north and down to the // south east an earnest happy new year, and thought much on you, and have too then prayed hearty and devoted to our dear father to bless us all in the new year and let all pass well and turn all to the best. What shall well this 1870 bring? O! dear mother who God will beware is without danger, and I trust on his love and grace. Miss Brewster longs utmost after news from you, and is happy expecting soonly to see you again. Mss Kushman has arrived, and is very glad to have news about you she is the old kind diligent lady so full off spirit and love. We have yet made some other knowledges very importing for Thorald; He is very well seen everywhere, playes diligently and is as always overlucky. The Danish ar Danish and very little represented this winter; Povlsens sends you their love; You do not know how we like another, it is a true family for me, and I am more guilty than I can ever pay. At last a little about myself; My first picture finished, the second half finished very good resultates, all people fond off them, and I self feel too to have learned and gained a great deal. I hope that this and all my diligence shall be the best christmass present for you and Father // and the best reward to you two dear parents for all what you have spend to make me able to reach was I work and battle for. In the evening I draw on the Accademy after Costumes and: “nuodo: Dear mother not only my dear dear Mimi but too I myself can not thank you enough for your hearty thoughts for both off us having given Mimi a read coalt[coat?], she is overlucky and knows not how to thank you enough and show her devotion, she askes me to greet heartily and send her and the whole families thank and lov. I am sorry that you have not got her letter. All does well, here with a letter from aunt Røschen. I am glad that you have passed christmass so happy, your […] is splendid and (ægte) danish, but I pray take care for your health dear mother, do not work too much, remember that the health is our treasure. We have it both exelent, we go to morrow in society with Alberto down to Porte d’ancio e nettuno by the meridian see, Thorald to see and I to make a few croquits –Kjæreste Moder!
Hoping that this will not
miss your am I your own
faithfull HaraldAndre referencer
Brevet er citeret i: Birgitte Fink, Landskabsmaleren Harald Jerichau, Frederiksberg: Frydenlund, 2022, 48.
Personer
- Rosa Baumann
- Anne Brewster
- Charlotte Cushman
- Harald Jerichau
- J.A. Jerichau
- Marie Jerichau
- Thorald Jerichau
- Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann
- Marie Kutzner
- Alberto Paulsen
Original
Sidst opdateret 14.11.2025
