Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by brewer Carl Jacobsen (1842-1914), who was one of the great businessmen of the 19th century, Denmark's largest art patron, and a passionate collector. The profits from Jacobsen's brewery, Ny Carlsberg, were used to create an impressive collection of art and cultural artifacts.
In 1888, Carl Jacobsen donated his collection to the public and began the construction of the Glyptotek. The museum has been open to the public since 1897 and today houses more than 10,000 artworks.
The collection at the Glyptotek primarily consists of artworks and archaeological artifacts from ancient Egypt, the ancient Greek and Roman empires, the Etruscan culture, and Danish and French art from the 19th century.