Abel Cathrine

Last updated March 05, 2019

Abel Cathrine (ca. 1626-1676) was a Danish courtier and philanthropist. She was the favorite of the queen of Denmark, Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and known as the founder of Abel Cathrine Foundation ( Abel Cathrines Stiftelse ). Abel Cathrines Gade, a street in Copenhagen, is named after her.^[1]^[2]

Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg was queen of Denmark and Norway as the consort of the King Frederick III of Denmark. She is known for her political influence, as well as for her cultural impact: she acted as the adviser of Frederick III, and introduced ballet and opera to Denmark.

Abel Cathrines Stiftelse is a listed building at Abel Cathrines Gade 13, between Vesterbrogade and Istedgade, in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built to provide housing for indigent women by a charity established in 1675 by Abel Cathrine von der Wisch, Queen Sophie Amalie's lady-in-waiting, replacing an earlier building in the city centre. Completed in 1886, it was designed by Hermann Baagøe Storck and is an early example of the National Romantic style..

Biography

Abel Cathrine was born in Schleswig-Holstein in circa 1626. She never used a surname, but she is believed to have been the illegitimate daughter of a German nobleman of the von der Wisch family. She was likely employed in the household of Queen Sophie Amalie upon her arrival to Denmark in 1643. In 1655, Abel Catherine married the court official Hans Hansen Osten (1617-1672), who was supervisor (proviantskriver) at Proviantgården on Slotsholmen and at the Copenhagen Castle in Copenhagen as well as crown manager of Queen Sofie Amalies's estates on Lolland and Falster. In addition to his responsibilities of the royal estates, Osten also accumulated a great fortune through personal investments. Formally, Abel Cathrine left her position as lady-in-waiting of the queen upon her marriage, but in practice she remained the intimate favorite of the queen who showed her many favors. ^[3]

Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig. Its capital city is Kiel; other notable cities are Lübeck and Flensburg.

Proviantgården or Provianthuset is a historic building on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Slotsholmen is an island in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, and part of Copenhagen Inner City. The name is taken from the successive castles and palaces located on the island since Bishop Absalon constructed the city's first castle on the island in 1167 at the site where Christiansborg Palace lies today.

After the death of her spouse in 1672, Abel Cathrine acquired Ulriksholm Manor (Ulriksholm Slot) in the parish of Kølstrup. She also used a large part of her wealth for charitable purposes. She founded Abel Cathrines Stiftelse to provide housing for the poor in Copenhagen. Abel Cathrine died on New Year's Day in 1676. In her will, she also created a hospital at Ulriksholm and a number of scholarships. Both Abel Cathrine and Hans Hansen Osten were buried at the Church of Holmen in Copenhagen where an epitaph with a double portrait was painted by Abraham Wuchters in 1674. ^[4]^[5]

The Church of Holmen is a Parish church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the wedding between Margrethe II of Denmark, current queen of Denmark, and Prince Henrik in 1967. It is the burial site of such notabilities as naval heroes Niels Juel and Peter Tordenskjold, and composer Niels Wilhelm Gade, and contains artwork by, among others, Bertel Thorvaldsen and Karel van Mander.

Abraham Wuchters was a Dutch-Danish painter and engraver. He was born in Antwerp but had most of his career in Denmark where he, along with Karel van Mander III, was the preferred painter of the Danish King, nobility and Bourgeoisie during his day, together they represent the main influence from the Dutch Golden Age on Danish Baroque art.

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References

↑ Grethe Ilsøe. "Abel Cathrine (1626-1676)". Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
↑ "Abel Cathrines stiftelse". kbharkiv.dk. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
↑ "Osten, Hans Hansen, 1617-72, Proviantskriver". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
↑ Abel Cathrine, 1626-76 Dansk biografisk Lexikon
↑ "Abraham Wuchters". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

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[1] Grethe Ilsøe. "Abel Cathrine (1626-1676)". Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[2] "Abel Cathrines stiftelse". kbharkiv.dk. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[3] "Osten, Hans Hansen, 1617-72, Proviantskriver". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[4] Abel Cathrine, 1626-76 Dansk biografisk Lexikon

[5] "Abraham Wuchters". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.