In the museum café Picnic you can have dinner and a cold beer with a view of Roman sculptures. In the bar in the Winter Garden, it will be possible to buy drinks and snacks all evening.
24 September at 5 PM
Why do cows suddenly occupy such a prominent place in 19th-century art? How did living lions end up in Paris? Can an elephant really run like other animals? And what can small sculptures tell us about how humans have viewed animals and nature?
Taking the exhibition Animals takes the stage. Sculptures by Antoine-Louis Barye as our point of departure, we turn the spotlight on wild animals, pets, animal gods, and sacrificial animals. We explore richly detailed depictions of animals in art, while delving into animal rights, science, and the human gaze upon nature.
Program:
5:00-5:30 pm A Welcome Beer from Carlsberg The Winter Garden
Drawing Workshop – Animal Sketching Take a seat among the animals of Ancient Egypt and explore the sculptures' shapes, details, and expressions with pencil and paper. Ask the host for a drawing board and a pencil, then find a free chair and start sketching. Gallery 1
Introduction to Exhibition. Animals Take the Stage - Sculptures by Antoine-Louis Barye Join us for an introduction to the current special exhibition on Antoine-Louis Barye's captivating animal sculptures, and discover how these small bronze works tell powerful stories about science, civilisation, and humanity's relationship with the animal world. Meeting point: the Loggia. 15 min.
An In-Depth Look at a Work. The Animals That Became Gods What role did animals play in ancient Mesopotamia? In this introduction, we encounter lions, bulls, and mythical creatures that once guarded Babylon's Ishtar Gate, and explore how animals were closely connected to the gods, political power, and the city's ceremonies as symbols of faith, protection, and authority. Meeting point: the Loggia. 15 min.
The Mythical Creatures of the Ishtar Gate Jackals, cats, and hippopotamuses were more than just animals in ancient Egypt—they were divine beings. Discover the stories behind the animal gods, the mummified animals, and a religion in which nature and belief were deeply intertwined. Meeting point: the Loggia. 15 min.
An In-Depth Look at a Work. From Pastoral Cow to Milking Machine From idyllic landscapes to industrial dairy farming, cows have left a lasting mark on Danish art. In this introduction, we trace the cow's journey through works by J.Th. Lundbye and Theodor Philipsen, and explore how art reflected the profound changes taking place in society. Meeting point: the loggia. 15 min.
Music. DKDM x Glyptoteket. The Carnival of the Animals Violinists Nicole Bronder and Marcjanna Derentowicz, students at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, bring the animal kingdom to life in a musical programme inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved The Carnival of the Animals. Through virtuosic performances, the audience encounters lions, cows, elephants, tortoises, and swans in an atmospheric concert experience. Danish Sculpture. 15 min.
Talk. From the Jungle to the City – The History of the First Zoos How did the first zoological gardens come into being, and what do they reveal about past attitudes towards animals and nature? Curator Christine Horwitz Tommerup joins biologist and Chair of the Danish Council on Animal Ethics, Bengt Holst, for a conversation about menageries, zoos, and the nineteenth century's fascination with exotic animals—and how these animals made their way to Europe. The Central Hall. 45 min.
Conversation. The Power of Pets TV host and dog lover Puk Elgård joins biologist and animal expert Anders Kofoed, known from GO' Morgen Danmark, and actor and cat enthusiast Rasmus Botoft for a conversation about the unique bond between humans and their pets.
What do we gain from sharing our lives with animals—and what do animals gain from their relationship with us? This conversation explores the importance of pets for our well-being, everyday lives, and emotional health, while also considering the relationship from the animals' perspective. The Central Hall. 45 min.
Concert. DJ Jonas Visti & Friends (feat. Dawda Jobarteh and Arto Eriksen) Drawing on a carefully curated selection of vinyl records, DJ Jonas Visti teams up with kora virtuoso Dawda Jobarteh and percussionist Arto Eriksen. In the Winter Garden, electronic soundscapes, West African traditions and improvised percussion come together in a dynamic and atmospheric performance. The Winter Garden. 30 min.
10:00 pm Thank you for tonight!
Next Slow: November 5th, 2026
As always you can enjoy a free welcome beer from Carlsberg, and throughout the evening you can buy snacks and dinner prepared by former Michelin chef, Lasse Askov.
Food and drinks may not be enjoyed in the exhibition halls.
Read more about the exhibition here.
On selected Thursdays, Glyptoteket opens the doors for Slow – an evening concept with art, talks, music, food and drinks. Each time with a new theme drawn from the deepest layers of art. Many know Glyptoteket as a space for contemplation and reflection. This experience is enhanced when, on special evenings, Glyptoteket presents a program that invites you to come close to the art and immerse yourself.
Attending Slow only requires a standard ticket to the Glyptotek. We recommend that you book your ticket online in advance – this way you will skip the line and save 10% on the price.
Season ticket holder: free entrance. Adult: 135 kr. (at the door 150 kr.) Under 27/students with a valid student card: 108 kr. (at the door 120 kr.) Under 18 years: free entrance.
The ticket includes admission to the museum all day. Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are non-refundable but may be passed on.
Buy a season ticket and get a discount on many other events as well as in the museum shop and café. Read more here.
Show your ticket in the ticket office and get a corresponding discount if you buy a season ticket on the same day. Contact the ticket office to hear more.
