The Stone Corridor and the Stair Tower (room 7)
The Stone Corridor is the long passage that connects the two large gable rooms on the ground floor. It was originally divided into two. From the Stone Corridor, you can access the iconic stone spiral staircase that connects all floors here at Rosenborg Castle.
The Castle's Development
The Stone Corridor
The Stone Corridor was originally divided into two, which is why the stucco ceiling is different at each end of the corridor. It is only in the northern end of the castle – the end where the Winter Room is located – where the ceiling from the time of Christian IV has been preserved. The many paintings in the Stone Corridor are associated with Christian IV, and in the middle of the corridor, you can see Christian IV's lavish family tree, flanked by busts of his parents - Frederick II and Queen Sophie.
The Stone Staircase
From the Stone Corridor, there is access to the iconic stone spiral staircase that connects all floors here at Rosenborg Castle. In 1624, while Rosenborg Castle was still under construction, a spiral staircase was established between the first and second floors of the castle. At this time, access to the first floor was via external stairs on either side of the new tower. This made sense because the ground floor was used for living quarters, while the upper floors were used for representative purposes. The external stairs ensured that guests were led directly to the representative rooms and did not have to enter through the private quarters. In the lower part of the Stair Tower, where there is now a small landing between the Stone Corridor and the staircase itself, there was a silver chamber.
This landing to the staircase from the Stone Corridor on the ground floor was first established in 1758, when the silver chamber was converted into a corridor – at the same time, the two external stairs were demolished.
Objects in the room
If you are physically at the museum, you can admire the outstanding objects and read more about them below.
Please note that these descriptions are brief and often without images. They serve as an additional resource for those who wish to gain more knowledge about each object, such as who created them, their origin, and significance.
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106Astronomical clock with musical works and moving figures; made in 1594 by Isaac Habrecht, one of the makers of the famous clock in Strasbourg Cathedral; it is partly a copy of this. Transferred to Copenhagen from the Cabinet of Curiosities at Gottorp Castle in 1764.
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700Christian IV as commander-in-chef. Sketch for the large equestrian portrait at Frederiksborg Castle. By Karel van Mander c. 1642-44.
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701Christian IV as mediator in the Thirdy Years’ War. Allegorical grisaille painting from 1643; signed:Adrian v(an de) Venne.
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702Christian IV on horseback in civilian dress with Frederiksborg Castle in the background. By unknown artist, after Karel van Mander, c. 1644.
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703The storming of Copenhagen, 11.2.1659. Painting, signed: D(aniel) Vertangen.
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704Portrait of Frederik III kneeling during the battle of Nyborg; painted by Wolfgang Heimbach, 1659. Signed.
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705Paying homage to the Hereditary King in front of the Castle of Copenhagen, 18th October, 1660. Signed: Wolfg. Heimbach fec. Oldenborg 1666.
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706Paying homage to the Hereditary King before the Castle of Copenhagen 1660: seen from Holmen's Bridge. Painted by Michael van Haven.
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707Christian IV's genealogical table with his ancestors' portraits and coats-of-arms; from about 1610 1612-19.
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710Jewel cabinet of ebony and ivory, inlaid with Florentine mosaic stamped in Augsburg; attributed to Melchior Baumgartner, c. 1650.
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711Table with top of inlaid semi-precious stones on black stand, Florence, c. 1650. Transferred to Copenhagen from the Cabinet of Curiosities at Gottorp Castle in 1750.
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712Christian IV and Queen Anne Cathrine; Full-length. Originally two separate portraits. The King painted by Pieter Isaacsz c. 1612?
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713Christian IV on horseback in front of Rosenborg; beside the King, an architect (Hans von Steenwinckel (II)?) or an engineer. Painted about 1638, by Karel van Mander?
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714Bronze bust of Christian IV, modelled 1643 in Copenhagen by François Dieussart and cast in Glückstadt in 1650.
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715Portrait of Queen Anne of England, sister of Christian IV. By unknown artist.
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716Portrait of Princess Maria of Russia; married to Duke Magnus, son of Christian III.
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717Presumably Christian IV’s sister, Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick Wolfenbüttel (1573-1626). Half length portrait.
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718Jørgen Rosenkrants. Councillor of State (1523-1596). Probably painted by Tobias Gemperlin c. 1590. Unsigned.
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719Frederik II's sister Anna, the Electress of Saxony (1532-85). Painted by Zach. Wehme, c. 1585.
