- Museum number
- 2004,0430.1.1-15
- Title
- Series: Die Geschichte des Deutschen Volkes in fünfzehn Blättern (The History of the German Nation in 15 sheets)
- Description
-
Series of fifteen large numbered plates engraved by thirteen engravers after drawings by Carl Hermann, giving the history of the German people from its heathen origins (plate 1) to its freedom in 1815 (plate 14), completed by a 'Schlussblatt' (plate 15) giving a picture of modern Germany; each plate consists of an arch inside which numerous smaller scenes are arranged. 1851-3
Engravings
- Production date
- 1854 (Plates engraved 1851-53)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 765 millimetres
-
Width: 562 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- For an account of the series, which was published as a set with a written description by Rudolph Foss in 1854 (Justus Perthes, Gotha) see G.Bartrum, 'German Romantic prints and drawings from an English private collection', London, 2011, pp.103-4 and pp.112-13, no.28. The team of engravers was led by Hermann's close friend, Julius Thaeter. Hermann's set of fifteen preparatory drawings for the series were sold at auction with Peter Kiefer, Pforzheim, 2 February, 2013, lot 7153, and acquired by the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
The titles of the plates are:
I: Manners and customs of the people and the mythology of the north. Engraved by Professor J. Thaeter, Munich 1853
II: Edda. Decline of the gods; subjugation of Germany by the Romans, and their deliverance 113 BC to AD 289. Engraved by Professor J. Thaeter, Munich 1853
III: Rise and spread of Christianity, its influence on Germany, 380-744. Engraved by H. Merz, Munich, 1852
IV: Development of Christian church and state under Charlemagne and his predecessors, 501 - 806. Engraved by H. Walde under the direction of J. Thaeter, Munich, 1851
V: Beginning of the German Empire, under the Carolingians and Henry I, 814-936. Engraved by C.F. Mayr, under the direction of J. Thaeter, Munich, 1851
VI: Germany under the Saxon emperors and Conrad II, 936 - 1039. Engraved by Fr. Ludy, Düsseldorf, 1852
VII: Salish emperors from Henry III to Henry V, 1039 - 1122. Engraved by A. Rordorf, Düsseldorf, 1852
VIII: Emperor Lothar of Saxony and the first crusade, to Frederick I, 1096-1190. Engraved by Th. Langer, Dresden, 1851
IX: The Hohenstaufens, from Henry VI to the death of Conradin. The flowering of the Middle Ages, 1190-1268. Engraved by C. Gonzenbach, Munich 1852
X: The end of the Middle Ages necessitates reform. Period of the construction of Thorn, under the landmaster Herman Salza and bishop Christian, to the Council of Constance, 1229-1415. Engraved by Ufer under the direction of J. Thaeter, Munich, 1852
XI: Last traces of the Middle Ages; beginning of a new period through the Reformation, 1417-1576. Engraved by E. Dertinger, Stuttgart, 1852
XII: Thirty Years War, 1609-1657. Engraved by Storz, Munich, 1853
XIII: Period from Emperor Leopold II to Joseph II, 1680 - 1765. Engraved by H. Nüsser, Düsseldorf, 1852
XIV: Revolution, War of Liberation and Dissolution of the German Empire, 1795-1815. Engraved by Voltz under the direction of J. Thaeter, Munich, 1852
XV: Concluding plate. Recent times. Sovereign and people, state and church, arts and sciences, trade and business, reason and aim. Engraved by Storz, Munich, 1853.
Literature: Reiner Oelwein, 'Geschichtsschreibung in Bildern: Carl Heinrich Hermanns 'Geschichte des deutschen Volkes in fünfzehn Bildern' ', Munich 2010 (reviewed by G.Bartrum, 'Print Quarterly' xxix, 2012, no.2, pp 202-3).
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
-
Associated Event: Council of Constance 1415
-
Associated Event: Thirty Years War 1618-1648
- Acquisition date
- 2004
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 2004,0430.1.1-15
