There is also a mosaic from Ravenna among the works present at the ‘Børsen’, the historic 17th century building in the center of Copenhagen, the old headquarters of the Stock Exchange which caught fire three days ago. In fact, on the ground floor there is also a significant and composite mosaic work created by the mosaic group of the Academy of Fine Arts of Ravenna and about which there is currently no certain information. The work was carried out by the historic group of which some of the major Ravenna mosaic artists of the twentieth century were members, such as Sergio Cicognani, Renato Signorini, Ines Morigi Berti, Libera Musiani, Romolo Papa, under the direction of Giuseppe Salietti. The director of the Group himself mentions the creation of the great Danish mosaic in the volume ‘Passion and rigor’ edited by Felice Nittolo.
The fire broke out on the night of April 16 in the Copenhagen Stock Exchange building known in Danish as ‘Børsen’. Of enormous dimensions, it also caused the collapse of the 54-metre spire of the building commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640, and which was currently being renovated. Located next to the Danish Parliament, Christiansborg Palace, the building housed the stock exchange until the 1970s, and is currently home to the Danish Chamber of Commerce but also to an important public collection of works of art, today largely partly destroyed by the fire.
During the hours in which the firefighters were busy putting out the flames, many citizens offered to help save the valuable paintings and other precious objects inside the building.
Among the paintings rescued from the flames there is also a famous painting by the Danish painter Peder Severin Krøyer. The images of citizens carrying the large canvas to safety have gone around the web.
Tags: Copenhagen fire Ravenna mosaic
