Bodil de Neergaard

Ellen Bodil Neergaard née Hartmann (10 February 1867 – 18 May 1959) was a Danish philanthropist and patron of the arts. She is remembered for her many charitable activities as well as for her life in Fuglsang Manor on the island of Lolland where, together with her husband Rolf Viggo de Neergaard, she hosted every summer prominent artists and musicians.

Early life and family background Born on 10 February 1867 in Copenhagen, Ellen Bodil Hartmann was the daughter of composer Emil Hartmann (1836–1898) and Bolette Puggaard (1844–1929). Her paternal grandfather, J.P.E. Hartmann, was also a renowned composer while her maternal grandfather, Rudolph Puggaard was a prosperous merchant, patron of the arts and philanthropist. Hans Christian Andersen was her godfather. She was thus brought up in a home with cultural interests and contacts, where the writers, artists and musicians of the times went in and out.

Marriage to Viggo Neergaard

On 2 May 1885, she married Rolf Viggo Neergaard (1837–1915), a cousin, and himself a philanthropist and amateur cellist, who owned the Fuglsang and Priorskov estates, one of the most extensive properties in the Eastern provinces. The couple moved into Fuglsang Manor, to which Bodil Neergaard brought the paintings inherited from her family , mostly by masters of the Danish Golden age such as Wilhelm Marstrand, Constantin Hansen, Jørgen Sonne, Peter Christian Skovgaard, Jørgen Roed, Christen Købke, Ditlev Blunck, Christian Albrecht Jensen, Vilhelm Kyhn, but also later painters such as Kristian Zahrtmann and Otto Bache, as well as sculptures by Bertel Thorvaldsen, Herman Wilhelm Bissen, Carl Hartmann or Carl Frederik Holbech. Further works by Fuglsang guests such as Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen or Rudolph Tegner were later added.

Many of the leading Scandinavian musicians of the day also came to stay in Fuglsang. They would often live there for several weeks in a row, particularly in the summer months. During the day, they would enjoy the free life in the beautiful surroundings, sail to the small islands in Guldborgsund, have tea there, or compose in their rooms, and in the evening, after a fine dinner, where the table was always decorated with varied artistic flower arrangements, daily concerts were played for mutual enjoyment by the guests in the large and beautiful music room. Or Nielsen would play for the guests on the piano his newly composed opera Maskarade even before it was put on stage. Nielsen wrote various works in Fuglsang. He composed At the Bier of a Young Artist for Bodil’s brother, the painter Oluf Hartmann's funeral in 1910.

Edvard Grieg was also a popular guest and friend and among those who played the grand piano in the music room and his wife Nina regularly played herself and sang. she however became also increasingly socially active. Her friend Mathilda Wrede gave her the idea to establish the Sønderskov Home (Sønderskovhjemmet) on her property to house up to 17 men suffering from lack of employment. Initially she covered all the costs herself but from 1923 it became an independent institution.

Today, Fuglsang hosts a cultural center, with its own musical ensemble, music association, concert hall and a fine arts museum.

Awards In 1947, Bodil Neergaard was honoured with the Medal of Merit for her extensive social and philanthropical contributions. The street Bodil Neergård Vænget in Odense is also named after her.

Publications Bodil Neergaard wrote memoirs describing her life at Fuglsang, published in 1941 and 1944 in Danish as Spedte træk af mit Liv, and as Minder fra Fuglsang: Mennesker jeg mødte gennem et langt Liv (Memories of Fuglsang: People I Met During a Long Life).

Literature

Bodil Neergaard, Minder fra Fuglsang: Mennesker jeg mødte gennem et langt Liv (Erindringer), 1944 Bodil Neergaard, Spedte træk af mit liv (Erindringer), 1941 Bodil Neergaard, Hendes Slægt og Virke, Skildret af Familie og Venner, 1948 Fuglsang 1885-1959, Billedkunst, Musik og Friluftsliv, Fuglsang Kunstmuseum 2015 Fritz von Bessendorf, Fuglsang, Kan svanerne komme tilbage? 2017 Halfdan Grøndal Hansen, Fuglsang, Bodil Neergaards Hjem Toke Lund Christiansen, Jeg Bodil, Forlaget Vandkunsten, 2023, 156 pages