...Dorothea Melchior
Hans Christian Andersen associated with the Melchior Family in the 1850s, and their mutual relation afterwards developed into that of a close friendship. Hans Christian Andersen was a permanent guest of the Melchior Family in their private residence at Højbro Plads number 21 in Copenhagen as well as the country house “Rolighed” (peacefulness), which was situated at the present Gl. Kalkbrænderivej at Østerbro in Copenhagen. Dorothea Melchior (1823-85), née Henriques, was married to Moritz Gerson Melchior (1816-84). Dorothea was one of the last in the long line of good friends Hans Christian Andersen had. It was at “Rolighed” that Hans Christian Andersen on August 4 1875 ended his days lovingly nursed through the last months by Mrs. Dorothea.
The photograph above of Dorothea Melchior is from 1864. The photographer is J. Petersen, Copenhagen.
...Hans Christian Andersen made this fantastic papercut for Dorothea Melchior
He wrote on it “A papercutting by Hans Christian Andersen for Mrs. Melchior née Henriques 1874”,. The papercut summarizes a number of the motifs which Hans Christian Andersen liked to use in his papercuts, e.g.: Millman, goblins, Pierrot, ballerinas, skulls, swans, figures with umbrellas, masks, angels, hearts, and Ole Lukoie.
Hans Christian Andersen's Correspondence with the Melchior Family
August 31 - October 21 2007
The previous director of the museum Niels Oxenvad’s three-volume work – H.C. Andersens brevveksling med familien Melchior (Hans Christian Andersen’s Correspondence with the Melchior Family) – was published on Forlaget Odense Bys Museer August 31 2007. The publication was celebrated on that date with a special exhibition just about the relation between the fairy-tale poet and the Melchior Family.
Those letters are a result of Hans Christian Andersen’s close friendship with the Jewish Family Melchior, and deserve to be published in their entirety. The correspondence goes from 1859 – 1875. For the first time all the letters are published completely unabridged. H.C. Andersens brevveksling med familien Melchior is written, annotated, and transcripted by Niels Oxenvad.
The exhibition included both objects from the museum collection and the Helga C. Melchior’s Family Fund.
The three-volume book, H.C. Andersens brevveksling med familien Melchior, costs kroner 538,-.