Centuries-old Artworks Saved from Copenhagen's Stock Exchange Blaze

Charred remains stand on the Old Stock Exchange building, following a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ali Withers
Charred remains stand on the Old Stock Exchange building, following a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ali Withers
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Centuries-old Artworks Saved from Copenhagen's Stock Exchange Blaze

Charred remains stand on the Old Stock Exchange building, following a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ali Withers
Charred remains stand on the Old Stock Exchange building, following a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ali Withers

Art conservators are assessing the damage to centuries-old paintings recovered from a blaze that destroyed Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange this week, the National Museum of Denmark said on Thursday.
As the blaze ripped through the 400-year-old Copenhagen landmark on Tuesday, passersby jumped off their bicycles to help firefighters, conservators and soldiers retrieve valuable paintings.
"It had to be fast," Nina Wajman, a curator at the National Museum of Denmark, told Reuters.
Conservators retrieved paintings from the half of the building that had not caught fire, while firefighters in smoke-helmets and soldiers of the Royal Life Guards recovered paintings from the part that was ablaze, hastily loading them on to trucks.
"They might not have done it in the way an art expert would, but that's minor, I think," said Wajman.
She entered the building to recover a portrait in oil of Christian IV, Denmark's 17th-century king who oversaw the construction of the building, which was originally built for trading in commodities.
"I wasn't sure that it had been rescued, so I went in to look for it and it was still there," Wajman said.
Some paintings were severely damaged by water or fire or because they were hastily torn off the walls.
Conservators are still inspecting the paintings, which were brought to a depot of the National Museum, and are trying to get an overview of the damage and what is missing.
"We had great focus on the valuables inside the building. But the problem was that I needed all my firefighters to contain the fire as long as we could," Jakob Vedsted Andersen, head of the fire department in greater Copenhagen, told Reuters.
"So we had to ask people for help to bring out the paintings and the sculptures," he said.
Employees at the nearby Danish Chamber of Commerce, including its CEO, helped to carry paintings as big as 3 meters wide into a section of the nearby Christiansborg palace.
Klavs Lockwood, a local, was at the site early on Tuesday.
"These paintings were very big and heavy, so I quickly offered my help," he said.
He said the painting he helped carry had been torn in several places.
"You could see it was taken off the wall in a hurry."



Heritage Commission Launches Cultural Events to Mark World Heritage Day

​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
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Heritage Commission Launches Cultural Events to Mark World Heritage Day

​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA

To mark World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, the Heritage Commission has launched a series of heritage and cultural events, taking place from April 16 to 21 at the Laysen Valley in Riyadh, to raise public awareness of the importance of national heritage by highlighting World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom and affirming their significance on the global map.
The events feature a variety of activities designed to offer an exceptional experience, allowing visitors to explore the Kingdom's rich heritage.

They showcase the cultural significance in an innovative way, blending interactive experiences to inspire a deeper appreciation of national heritage, SPA reported.
Among the highlights are drone shows on April 18 at the Heritage Valley area, a designated children's area, and pavilions showcasing heritage arts and handicrafts.
The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products.
The commission is keen to prepare for and celebrate this day as a vital means of honoring the Kingdom's rich heritage and creatively showcasing its cultural components and historical depth to all segments of society.