Thorwaldsen, Bertel. Born in 1770. Noted Danish sculptor, of Icelandic origin. Studied at the free school of the Academy of Copenhagen, and was sent by that body to Rome in 1796. His first real work was his "Jason." Except for a visit to Denmark in 1819-20, when Thorwaldsen executed the statues of "Christ and the Twelve Apostles" for the Frue Kirke at Copenhagen, he remained in Rome until 1838. After that date he lived, for the most part, in Denmark. His masterpieces include the "Entry of Alexander into Babylon," the statue of "Prince Poniatowski," and the "Dying Lion" at Lucerne. Thorwaldsen died in 1844.

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