Location Copenhagen, Denmark Completed 1769 Architectural style Neoclassical architecture | Country Denmark Opened 1769 Client Gysbert Behagen | |
 | ||
Similar Lehn House, Strandgade 24, Steinfass House, Heering House, Christian IV's Arsenal | ||
The Behagen House is a Neoclassical townhouse located on Strandgade (No. 26) in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Contents
History
Two houses similar to the neighbouring Sigvart Grubbe House at No. 28 were built at the site by Sigvart Grubbe in 1626.
In 1759, Gysbert Behagen, a wealthy merchant, acquired one of the two houses. In 1764, he obtained a royal licence to establish a sugar refinery in the yard. In 1768, Behagen also acquired the other house and in 1669 he undertook a comprehensive renovation of his properties, merging them into one building. Behagen lived there until his death in 1783. In 1791, the house was acquired by Jeppe Prætorius, another merchant. In 1796, it was subject to another renovation.
Later notable residents include supreme court attorney and politician Orla Lehmann who lived there in 1847-48. He was one of the fathers of the Danish constitution of 1849. Carl Joakim Brandt, a priest, church historian and literary historian, lived on the ground floor in 1876-79. The painter Frants Henningsen lived on the second floor in 1890–94. The philosopher and professor Harald Høffding lived on the second floor in 1906–08
Architecture
The Neoclassical townhouse seen today is 10 bays wide and consists of three storeys, a cellar and a Mansard roof with black-glazed tiles. The central triangular pediment above the third floor features a cartouche with the letter 'B' (for Behagen) and the year '1769'.
The building contains a mural from about 1771 featuring a royal hunting scene. It depicts Christian VII accompanied by Johann Friedrich Struensee and Queen Caroline Matilda during a par force hunt in what is believed to be an imaginary setting although it has been speculated that Selsø lake and manor house may have served as an inspiration. The artist in unknown. Christian VII revived par force hunting in August 1767 but the practice was abolished in 1777.