Daniel Jensen Adzer (17 January 1732 3 April 1808) was a Danish

medallist A medalist (or medallist) is an artist who designs medals, plaquettes, badges, metal medallions, coins and similar small works in relief in metal. Historically, medalists were typically also involved in producing their designs, and were usually e ...

(i.e., medal maker). He was appointed as royal medallist in 1766.

Early life and education

Adzer was born on 17 January 1732 in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

, the son of master (i.e., a metal worker specialising in small articles) Jens Jensen Adzer and Maria Cathrine Jürgensen (c. 1696–1779). He initially apprenticed as a goldsmith in Copenhagen. In 1754, he traveled to Paris, where he met another young goldsmith from Copenhagen, J. H. Wolff, who inspired him to pursue a career as a medallist. He was subsequently articled to the medallist

Jean Duvivier Jean Duvivier (1687 – 30 April 1761) was a French medallist, who was appointed official medallist to King Louis XV of France. Jean Duvivier was born in 1687 in Liège. He moved to Paris in 1710. In 1719 he was chosen by Louis XV as his official ...

Career

In 1757, Adzer returned to Copenhagen. His first work as a medallist was the reverse side of Magnus Gustav Arbien's medal to the Art Academy's patron, A. G. Moltke. After Arbien's death in 1760, he and Wolff were charged with the execution of a number of medals in conjunction with ''suverænitetsfesten''. In 1761, he and Wolff travelled to Rome by way of Paris on a three-year travel stipend. On his return to Copenhagen, in August 1764, he became an associate member of the Art Academy. In 1766, he was created a full member of the Art Academy after submitting a new medal to A. G. Moltke as his reception piece. In 1776, he designed a medal commemorating the

Danish Citizenship Act of 1776 The Danish Citizenship Act of 1776 ) Danish ''Indfødsretsforordningen af 1776'' or simply ''Indfødsretten af 1776'') was an act promulgated by Christian VII under which access to public positions in the kingdom of Denmark became the prerogative o ...

. On 17 May 1766, Adzer was appointed as royal medallist with an annual salary of 250 rigsdaler. Over the next years he completed a total of 42 medals. These included medals commemorating the death of

Frederick V Frederick V or Friedrich V may refer to: *Frederick V, Duke of Swabia (1164–1170) * Frederick V, Count of Zollern (d.1289) *Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg (c. 1333–1398), German noble * Frederick V of Austria (1415–1493), or Frederick II ...

and the anointing of

Christian VII Christian VII (29 January 1749 – 13 March 1808) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death in 1808. He was affected by mental illness and was only nominally king for most of his reign. His roya ...

as well as medals to

Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark (; 11 October 1753 – 7 December 1805) was heir presumptive to the thrones of Denmark and Norway. He was the only surviving son of Frederick V of Denmark, King Frederick V by his second wife, Juliana Maria ...

, and the Queen Dowager Juliane Marie, members of the Bernstorff family, and the scholars Langebek, Hielmstjerne and Suhm. He also created the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen (, KU) is a public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia, after Uppsala University. ...

's prize medal ''Pro Meritis''. After 1784, he received only few assignments.

Personal life

On 16 January 1767, Adzer married Christiane Frederikke Schäffer (1745-1833), a daughter of court master joiner

Dietrich Schäffer Dietrich () is an ancient German name meaning "ruler of the people", but also "keeper of the keys" or "lockpick" (either the tool or the profession). Given name * Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg (c. 1398–1440) * Thierry of Alsace (; 1099–1168), ...

(died c. 1778) and Wolber C. Bertram (c. 1712–75), at

Jægersborg Jægersborg is a suburban neighbourhood in Gentofte Municipality, some 12 km north of central Copenhagen, Denmark. History The whole area was from at least 1401 a royal estate known as Ibstrup (the earliest sources refer to it as Jepsto ...

. They often spent the summers at Schæffergården. In 1781, he was awarded a residence at

Charlottenborg Palace Charlottenborg Palace () is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy ...

. Their daughter Catharina Maria Adzer (1767-1845) was married to the merchant Caspar Peter Bügel. At the time of the 1801 census, Adzer resided with his wife at No. 299 in Sankt Ann's East Quarter. The miniature painter

Cornelius Høyer Cornelius Høyer (26 February 1741 – 2 June 1804) was a Danish painter, mainly known for his work in miniatures. Within his special trade, he was among the virtuosos of his day and won an international reputation. Early life and education ...

, Høyer's father and professor Boye Magens were also part of the households. Adzer died on 3 April 1808 and is buried in

Assistens Cemetery An Assistens Cemetery () is a cemetery that functions as an expansion of another, older cemetery often in relation to a city church. Already by the end of the 17th century, Danish authorities deemed that the conditions for inner-city cemeteries we ...

Gallery

Image:The Right of Nationality MET ES4131.jpg, Porcelain figurine designed for the Royal Porcelain Manufactory in commemoration of ''Indfødsretsforordningen'' of 1776. File:Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797), Danish Foreign Minister (1784–97) MET SF2007 366 img1.jpg, Front side of medal to Andreas Peter Bernstorff. Image:Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797), Danish Foreign Minister (1784–97) MET SF2007 366 img2.jpg, Reverse side of medal to Andreas Peter Bernstorff Image:Medalje for Kronprins Frederiks fødsel 1768 bagside.jpg, Medal commemorating the birth of Crown Prince Frederick (VI) Image:Kronprins Frederik som barn, senere Frederik VI.jpg, Plaster relief of Crown Prince Frederick (VI) as a child.

References

External links

Daniel Jensen Adzer
at

Kunstindeks Danmark ''Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon'' (English: ''Weilbach's Biographical Dictionary of Artists'') is a Danish biographical dictionary of artists and architects. The current edition, which is also freely accessible online, contains the biographies of some ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adzer, Daniel 18th-century Danish medallists 19th-century Danish medallists Burials at Assistens Cemetery (Copenhagen) Artists from Copenhagen 1732 births 1808 deaths