Exhibited: Charlottenborg 1861 no. 61.

Literature: Caspar Jørgensen & Bo Bramsen (ed.), “Vestervold falder”, vol. 9 in “København før og nu - og aldrig”, 1991, ill. p. 80. On p. 81, a drawing from 1860 shows the free access to the city after the demolition of the gate. In the background the tower of the Cathedral. Vesterport was located at the entrance to the current Strøget at Rådhuspladsen. The buildings in the bagground are located at the corner of Frederiksberggade. (See photo of city map).

In 1856, the military guard posts at all gates into Copenhagen came to an end and in 1857 a royal resolution ordered the demolition of Vesterport. The first step was to dig a hole in the rampart on each side of the gate. In the painting, two teams of workers with hoes and spades are busy digging on either side of the gate. One side is cleared. The gate itself is intact, but the earth covering has been dug away, leaving only the two facades with retaining walls connected to the vaulted gate tunnel. Around the gate there is lively street life. Horse-drawn carriages on their way in and out of town, mothers with children strolling in the lovely weather, a woman with fruit on her way to the market and a gentleman with a top hat, yellow waistcoat and walking stick on his way out of town.

Provenance: Commissioned from the artist by Frederik VII of Denmark (1808–1863), his estate auction at Christiansborg Palace, 7 October 1864, no. 97. Here acquired by M. Levin.