Dyed concrete/mortar and paint, 1924. Size 113 x 375 cm. Inv. no. 194.

Niels Hansen Jacobsen's decorations for the museum

In 1924, Niels Hansen Jacobsen decorated the entrance of the new museum building with a relief of the Sun God riding forth with his chariot and four horses. Around him ordinary mortals must throw themselves to the ground to avoid being trampled. The relief was modelled in situ, the same method Niels Hansen Jacobsen used when modellingthe troll fountain's lizards.

The modelling was carried out after the inauguration of the museum on July 1, 1924. There are two announcements in Folkebladet. The journalist seems to have been in some doubt as to the sex of the main figure:

At present, the sculptor Niels Hansen Jacobsen is creating a work of art above the museum entrance: "The Sun Goddess Drives Forth".
Folkebladet, August 2, 1924.

The sculptor Niels Hansen Jacobsen is now adding the final touch to his work of art above the museum entrance: "The Sun God Drives Forth."
Folkebladet, September 13, 1924

Relief of an owl at the north end of the museum

The previous year Niels Hansen Jacobsen had made a marble relief above what was originally the entrance to his residence, the part of the museum that today holds his private rooms (the north end of the building). The marble relief was mounted in the early stages of the construction. The relief is composed with the same stringent symmetry as in his friend Jens Lund's paintings "Day's Flower " and "Night's Flower," both from 1898.

The owl is an ancient symbol of wisdom. In greek mythology an owl follows the goddess of wisdom, Pallas Athene. Owls often decorate older library buildings and many publishing houses have used the owl in their logos.