Paus collection

The Paus collection (Norwegian: Paus-samlingen) is a collection of classical sculpture that forms part of the Norwegian National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, and previously of its predecessor, the National Gallery. Previously the largest private collection of classical sculpture in the Nordic countries, it was donated to the Norwegian government by papal chamberlain and count Christopher Tostrup Paus between 1918 and 1929 as the intended foundation of a Norwegian museum or department of classical sculpture.[1]

History
Count Christopher Tostrup Paus, who created the collection
The National Gallery, where the collection was on display 1918–2019

The collection was created by Christopher Tostrup Paus (1862–1943) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was the largest private collection of classical sculpture in the Nordic countries at the time. Paus was heir to one of Norway's largest timber companies (Tostrup & Mathiesen) and was a papal chamberlain and count, who lived for several years in Rome, where he acquired the collection with the assistance of several Scandinavian art historians. The collection was donated by Paus to the National Gallery between 1918 and 1929. It was intended as the foundation of a Norwegian museum or department of classical sculpture, as Paus wrote in a letter to the government in 1918, and formed the core of the National Gallery's classical sculpture collection.[2][3][4] Prior to Paus' decision to donate the collection to the National Gallery, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek had attempted to acquire it.[5] The collection was on display in the first floor of the old National Gallery building from 1918 to 2019, before the National Gallery moved to the newly completed National Museum building in 2022. Several of the works are from 2022 on display in Room 1 in the new National Museum. Paus was appointed as a Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav for services to art museums in 1919 and was later promoted to Commander.[6]

Works

The collection includes at least 60 sculptures mainly from Ancient Rome and some from Ancient Greece, especially Roman works from the period 100 BC to 200 AD, but also some older works from the first millennium BC. It includes busts of emperors such as Galba, Trajan, Lucius Verus, and (probably) Commodus, empress Julia Domna, Ptolemy of Mauretania, and numerous Roman women.[1] Samson Eitrem wrote a review of the collection in 1919[7] and a comprehensive catalogue in 1927.[1] Several of the works have been described as being of very high quality and characteristic of their era.[1][8]

Image Name Subject Era Details Provenance
Paus Trajan (Portrait of Trajan after Decennalia type) Trajan 103–117 AD Fine crystalline white marble, height 32.7 cm. Reworked ca. 103–17 AD from an older portrait, possibly a portrait of Domitian (81–96 AD) Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1923
Paus Galba Galba 1st century Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Paus Julia Domna (Portrait of Julia Domna, Fesch type) Julia Domna Ca. 193–211 AD Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Probably Commodus 180–192 AD Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Paus Lucius Verus Lucius Verus 2nd century Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Paus Ptolemy Ptolemy of Mauretania 1st century Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Portrait of a woman with wreath 40–45 AD Macrocrystalline white marble, height 21.8 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Portrait of a man Ca. 50 BC Macrocrystalline white marble, height 31.5 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Female head with wreath Ca. 130–160 AD Fine crystalline white marble, height 19.8 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Portrait of a man Ca. 50–75 AD Fine crystalline white marble, height 28.8 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Female head from relief Ca. 150–200 AD Fine crystalline white marble, height 21 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1927
Portrait of a girl Ca. 65–75 AD Fine crystalline white marble, height 26.5 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Boy with Phrygian cap 69–138 AD Fine crystalline marble, height 13.3 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Portrait of a woman 120–130 AD Macrocrystalline white marble, height 24.7 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Head of Isis 30 BC–70 AD Macrocrystalline white marble, height 23.8 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918
Herm bust of Apollo 1st century AD Macrocrystalline white marble, height 34.5 cm Donated by Christopher Paus to the National Gallery in 1918

References
  1. Samson Eitrem (1927). Antikksamlingen. Nasjonalgalleriet.
  2. "Hva Nasjonalgalleriet skylder kammerherre Paus", Aftenposten, 13 September 1943, p. 3
  3. Dag Solhjell (1995). Kunst-Norge: en sosiologisk studie av den norske kunstinstitusjonen. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget
  4. Haakon Shetelig (1944). Norske museers historie. Oslo: Cappelen
  5. "Vort Nationalgalleri staar færdigreist idag". Aftenposten. 1924-03-21. p. 4.
  6. Den kongelige norske St. Olavs orden. Hanche. 1934. p. 114.
  7. Samson Eitrem (2 August 1919). "Chr. Paus' gave til Kunstmuseet". Aftenposten. p. 4.
  8. Arbeidets Rett. 8 October 1943.
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