Anton Goering

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Anton Goering - Portrait (1869)

Christian Anton Goering, also: Göring (born September 18, 1836 in Schönhaide ; † December 7, 1905 in Leipzig ), was a German explorer, scientist, painter and draftsman. He worked as an ornithologist, zoologist and taxidermist. In the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt , he conducted botanical, ornithological and geographical studies on two research trips to South America from 1856 and from 1866 . He collected and prepared rare animals and recorded his impressions in drawings and landscape watercolors. With his work, Goering made an important contribution to the exploration of Venezuela . He also provided illustrations for various publications, including Brehm's animal life .

Life

Anton Goering was born on September 18, 1836 as the son of the "Mechanicus" Heinrich Goering and his wife Christiane, geb. Funk, born in Schönhaide near Thonhausen in what is now Altenburger Land . Through his father, an ornithological collector and taxidermist, the son became interested in nature from an early age.

Childhood, education and first employment (1842–1856)

Anton Goering attended the local school. He acquired his first artistic skills at the Bernhard von Lindenaus art school in Altenburg , 20 km from Schönhaide. In September 1850 the "Ornithological Association of the Pleißengrund" was founded in Crimmitschau , in which father and son Goering were members.

Through a friend of his father's, master baker Carl Oberländer from Greiz, he met the well-known “bird pastor” Christian Ludwig Brehm in Renthendorf in 1850 . Anton Goering received valuable advice from him for his later work as a taxidermist . At the invitation of Brehm, Anton Goering spent three days in Renthendorf in 1851 and received extensive ornithological instruction.

“We also went on excursions in the area and especially to the ornithologically interesting ponds. I was able to learn a lot because everything was made aware of and explained. "

He received further scientific suggestions from Alfred Brehm , the son of Christian Ludwig Brehm, and the members of the Natural Research Society of the Osterland. He stayed in contact with them throughout his life, even while traveling, and engaged in scientific exchange.

Through the intercession of Johann Heinrich Gottfried Apetz (1794–1857), the then director of the Natural Research Society of the Osterland in Altenburg , Anton Goering received a position as taxidermist and curator in the Zoological Museum of the University of Halle. His teacher became Dr. Hermann Burmeister .

On behalf of Burmeister, he traveled again to the Brehm family in Renthendorf in 1855 in order to select bird bellows for the museum's collection , which Alfred Brehm had brought back from his North Africa trip. It was Anton Goering's last meeting with his mentor Christian Ludwig Brehm .

First research trip (1856-1858)

Naturforschender Verein des Pleißengrund zu Obergrünberg, first row on the right: Anton Goering, next to the association's founder Gottfried Lampert (1836–1902). The photo was probably taken on January 3, 1863 when Goering gave a lecture on his research trip to Brazil (photography, Museum Burg Posterstein )
Naturforschender Verein des Pleißengrund in Obergrünberg, first row sitting on the right: Anton Goering, next to the association's founder Gottfried Lampert (1836–1902). The photo was probably taken on January 3, 1863 when Goering gave a lecture on his research trip to Brazil (photography, Museum Burg Posterstein )

Anton Goering undertook his first research trip to South America as a companion to Hermann Burmeister . In September 1856 he embarked in Hamburg and reached Rio de Janeiro after a journey of almost six weeks . The journey through the La Plata states of Brazil , Uruguay and Argentina takes two years . Anton Goering accompanied the expedition with interruptions as a draftsman and taxidermist until his journey home to Germany in 1858. On January 3, 1863, Anton Goering gave a lecture about this trip to the members of the "Natural Research Association of the Pleißengrund in Obergrünberg", of which he had been a member since 1862.

From Halle to London - Artistic Further Education (1859–1866)

In 1859 Anton Goering returned to Halle and took up his position at the Zoological Museum of the University of Halle again. After a short time, however, he moved to Leipzig and studied drawing, painting and sculpture with Hermann Knaur between 1860 and 1864 . For this he received a grant from the Lindenau-Zachschen Foundation. In the files of the administrative commission of the foundation he appears in the years 1861 and 1862 as "Sculptor Anton Göring", also with the addition "Schönhaide". In 1863 only his name can be found among the artist grants.

In 1864 Goering received the "Lindenau-Zachsche Reisestipendium" and began studying with Joseph Wolf in London , who was known for his excellent animal drawings. He probably also learned about him from his future patron Dr. Philip Lutley Sclater know. This connection enabled Goering to go on his own study trip in 1866.

Study trip to Venezuela (1866–1874)

In 1866, Anton Goering, as a corresponding member of the Zoological Society of London, was commissioned to undertake his own study trip to South America . His main destination was Venezuela , where he made bird hides and explored the country's flora for eight years for the collection of the Natural History Museum . Among other things, he discovered the caves near Caripe, which were previously unknown to researchers .

After his return in 1874, Anton Goering married Maria Rost from Eisenberg. The exact date is unknown.

The late years (1876–1905)

Anton Goering lived in Leipzig from 1876 and worked as a landscape painter and illustrator . He has written articles for various magazines and books, lectured, and participated in art exhibitions. The art exhibitions in Eisenberg in 1880 and in Altenburg in 1882 are documented .

For his services, Anton Goering was made an honorary member of the Natural Research Society of the Osterland in Altenburg and the Ornithological Association of Leipzig in 1892. In 1883 Duke Ernst I of Saxony-Altenburg awarded him the title of Honorary Professor and in 1893 the Duke of Saxony-Ernestine House Order .

Anton Goering published his travel impressions in Leipzig in 1893 under the title “From tropical lowlands to eternal snow. A picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela ”.

After a long illness, Anton Goering died in Leipzig on December 7, 1905, presumably as a result of a stroke. He found his final resting place in the Johannisfriedhof in Leipzig .

Research trips

First research trip through the La Plata states (1856-1858)

From 1854 Anton Goering worked as a taxidermist and curator in the Zoological Museum of the University of Halle under the direction of Dr. Hermann Burmeister . When Burmeister was planning a research trip through the La Plata states of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in 1856, he asked Goering to accompany him on this expedition as a draftsman and taxidermist.

Anton Goering's diary entries provide information about the travel events in addition to Burmeister's travel reports. In the collection of the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig , two travel diaries, a sketchbook and various prints by Anton Goering have been preserved. One of the diaries is dedicated to this first trip to South America. The book, written mainly in pencil, has many sketches.

In mid-September 1856 Anton Goering traveled by train from Halle via a stopover in Magdeburg to Hamburg , where he met Hermann Burmeister and his two sons. The voyage began on September 29, 1856. Together with Burmeister's sons, Goering embarked on the sailing ship “Dorothea”. The trip took six weeks. The leader of the expedition, Hermann Burmeister, traveled with the express steamer "Tamar" of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company from Southampton .

On December 1, 1856, the journey continued by steamship to Montevideo . Already on the way there were the first tensions within the tour group.

On December 15, 1856, the tour group went on a trip to Mercedes. The trip by stagecoach lasted three days. The route ran from Montevideo to San José , then via Perdido to Mercedes, which they reached on December 17, 1856. Anton Goering enthusiastically described his various activities and his impressions:

"... December 19th Great excursion with the shotgun around birds and insects along the lower bank of the Rio Negro. I shot a total of 13 pieces of which only 9 pieces could be prepared; there are some new ones. "

On January 1, 1857, the group traveled back to Montevideo. The relationship between Burmeister and Goering seemed to have deteriorated during this time. Anton Goering wrote in his diary:

“Prof. Burmeister is very unwilling during the whole trip; in St. José he tells me that it is okay with him how I want to return to Europe. "

What exactly led to this dispute remains unclear.

On January 3, 1857, the tour group arrived back in Montevideo. Two days later, Anton Goering went again with Burmeister's son on a trip to Canelones , where they caught and groomed 90 birds. On January 16, they traveled back to Montevideo. There it came to a break between Goering and Burmeister on January 17, 1857. The ways parted.

“After I had clarified my position on Prof. Burmeister during my stay in Canelones and I found being with his son unbearable, [...] I decided to give Mr. To tell Pr.B. that I have decided not to travel any further with him and believed what she had said and acted according to her wishes. He answered me, well, yes, you see and we were separated, I went, wished him a good trip and what I thought I didn't say. "

Anton Goering financed his onward journey through Uruguay to Argentina by preparing birds, with drawings and carving himself. In August 1857 Goering traveled from Montevideo to Buenos Aires . His way led him across Argentina to Mendoza . Only then did Burmeister and Goering meet again.

Anton Goering accompanied Burmeister on his expedition as a draftsman and taxidermist until the end of 1858. Then he started his journey home to Germany. He took some of the animals and plants he had collected with him to Halle, where he arrived in 1859. Hermann Burmeister followed in 1860.

The yield of the research trip, which lasted over three years, was remarkable. Burmeister's directory in the curatorial files (official files) speaks of more than 9,000 objects, including specimens from insects, amphibians and birds, which were transferred from South America to the collection of the Zoological Museum of the University of Halle and have been preserved there under Burmeister's name to this day.

Second research trip to Venezuela (1866–1874)

At the intercession of his patron Dr. In 1866, Philip Lutley Sclater was given the opportunity to go on his own study trip to South America as a corresponding member of the Zoological Society of London . His main destination was Venezuela , where he made bird hides for eight years for the collection at the Natural History Museum and explored the country's flora.

On September 18, 1866, his 30th birthday, Anton Goering left London. His preliminary destination was Trinidad . The time at sea was passed by studying the sea creatures caught on board, among other things.

In Trinidad , Anton Goering found accommodation in the Wellington Hotel. On November 14th he went on a trip to Arima , from which he returned on November 17th. On November 26th the voyage continued to Carúpano in Venezuela , where the ship reached port on November 30th.

From Carúpano Goering made several trips, including to the areas around Pilar and Caripe . In June 1867 he visited the Guacharo Cave described by his great role model Alexander von Humboldt . A letter about the discovery of the caves near Caripe shows how much Goering valued Humboldt's life's work:

“It made a peculiar impression on me when I stood on the same spot where the greatest man in science stood. What did he think when he saw the huge underground halls with their thousandfold formed stalactites! I drew the so-called Quarto precioso, illuminated by four torches, and the magnificent entrance to the cave, on three visits. If Humboldt had heard at the time that there were still larger caves nearby, he would certainly have stayed longer in Caripe to visit them. "

He then continued his research in the east and south-east of Caripe in the mountainous landscapes there. Led by locals, Anton Goering discovered two caves near the Rio Arcacuar that were previously unknown to European researchers. He could enter one of the caves and draw. This "Cueva Grande" near Terésen (Estado Monagas) was named "Cueva Anton Goering" in his honor. According to the Association of Austrian Speleologists, it is the third longest cave in Venezuela with a total length of 1621 meters.

The onward journey to the eternal snow In 1866 Goering traveled from Carúpano to Caracas and on to Puerto Cabello . From there he reached Lake Valencia in 1868 . He stayed here until the beginning of 1869 and then traveled on to San Esteban , where he had to stay longer due to the outbreak of a revolution . Goering used the time for botanical studies.

Finally he took the ship to Maracaibo and from there to Mérida . His way led him towards the west coast to Cúcuta in today's Colombia .

In 1869 he returned to Puerto Cabello via Mérida and Valera . Between 1869 and 1874 Goering repeatedly explored the areas around Caracas, Mérida and Puerto Cabello. In his temporary accommodation he showed small exhibitions, brought the local families closer to home with his watercolors and preparations, or gave preparation lessons . His excursions were often delayed by the unstable political situation in Venezuela .

In 1874 Anton Goering finally traveled back to Europe from Puerto Cabello . He published his travel impressions in Leipzig in 1893 with Adalbert Fischers Verlag under the title “From tropical lowlands to eternal snow. A picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela ”.

Works

Anton Goering: From the tropical lowlands to eternal snow, A picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela, Leipzig 1893, Library Museum Burg Posterstein
Anton Goering: From tropical lowlands to eternal snow, a picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela, Leipzig 1893, Library Museum Burg Posterstein

Literary work and treatises

Beispielsweise:
* Anton Goering: Weihnachtserinnerungen aus den Tropen, in: Die Gartenlaube, 1883, Heft 51, S. 827–828, Herausgeber Ernst Ziel, Verlag von Ernst Keil, Leipzig.
* Anton Goering: Aus der argentinischen Provinz Mendoza, in: Die Gartenlaube, 1881, Heft 3, S. 48–51, Herausgeber Ernst Ziel, Verlag von Ernst Keil, Leipzig.
* Anton Goering: Am See von Maracaibo, in: Die Gartenlaube, 1879, Heft 24, S. 404–407, Herausgeber Ernst Ziel, Verlag von Ernst Keil, Leipzig.
  • Article and illustrations in: Globus , illustrated journal for regional and ethnology with a special focus on anthropology and ethnology . Published by Karl Andree. Friedrich Vieweg and son.
Beispielsweise:
* Anton Goering: A. Goering’s Reise in Venezuela, in: Globus, Braunschweig 1867, Band 11, S. 188.

Beispielsweise:
* Anton Goering: Ornithologische Erinnerungen aus Venezuela. In: Monatsschrift des Deutschen Vereins zum Schutze der Vogelwelt, Band 8, Jahrgang 1883, S. 214ff.
* Anton Goering: Ornitologische Skizzen aus Argentinien. In: Monatsschrift des Deutschen Vereins zum Schutze der Vogelwelt, Band 11, Jahrgang 1886, S. 250ff.
* Anton Goering: Bilder aus dem Leben der Hoccos in Südamerika. In: Monatsschrift des Deutschen Vereins zum Schutze der Vogelwelt, Band 17, Jahrgang 1891, S. 375ff.
  • Alfred Brehm: Anton Goering was brought in by Alfred Brehm as a consultant for individual articles, including the description of the Guacharo , in: Brehms Thierleben.

Works as an illustrator

Artistic work

Many of Anton Goering's watercolors are now privately owned in Europe and South America, some of them in very poor condition. In order to preserve Anton Goering's cultural heritage and make his work accessible to the public, the Asociacion Cultural Humboldt in Caracas published a comprehensive catalog of watercolors by Anton Goering from private ownership in 1969. Under the title “Venezuela a century ago. Pictures by Anton Goering (1836–1905) ”the publication contains a biography and a list of Goering's publications in three languages ​​as well as 51 illustrations.

The book From the Tropical Lowlands to Eternal Snow , written by Anton Goering . A picturesque depiction of the most beautiful tropical country of Venezuela (Leipzig 1893, Adalbert Fischer's Verlag) includes print graphics of 12 watercolors and 54 text illustrations.

Further works can be found in the collection of the Leibniz Institute Leipzig: Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography in Leipzig, Anton Goering estate, 291/2: two watercolors, 92 prints and 36 types of cars on thin printing paper.

Collections

  • Zoological Museum of the University of Halle : Burmeister collection, approx. 9000 insect, amphibian and bird specimens, which come from the joint trip to South America from 1856–1860 and were largely made by Anton Goering.
  • Natural History Museum , London: Dr. Philip Lutley Sclater, prepared bird skins as well as bird and animal skins from Anton Goering's trip to South America in 1866–1874. The Goering's collections, published in 1868 by Sclater in the “Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London”, comprised 173 specimens of 126 different species in an initial broadcast. Until then, three of them were unknown to researchers. A second shipment included further preparations of 99 different types.
  • Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography: 1 portrait photo of Anton Goering around 1880, two travel diaries, a sketchbook , two watercolors as well as 92 prints and 36 types of cars on thin printing paper.

gallery

  • Animal life on the middle Orinoco, chromolithography after a drawing by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

    Animal life on the middle Orinoco, chromolithography after a watercolor by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

  • Bittern - Botaurus stellaris, chromolithography after a drawing by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

    Bittern - Botaurus stellaris, chromolithography after a drawing by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

  • Ciconia ciconia, White Stork, chromolithography after a drawing by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

    Ciconia ciconia, White Stork, chromolithography after a drawing by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

  • Howler monkeys on the Rio Escalante, chromolithography after a watercolor by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

    Howler monkeys on the Rio Escalante, chromolithography after a watercolor by Anton Goering, Collection Museum Burg Posterstein

Honors and commemorations

Brachygalba goeringi – Fahlnacken-Glanzvogel: P. L. Sclater Sc Salvin 1869, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1869: 253, pl. 18. Syntype, Adult male. Reg. no. 1888.8.21.89. Maruria, Lake of Valencia, Venezuela, 8 Oct. 1868. Collected by A. Goering. Salvin-Godman Collection.
 
Hemispingus goeringi – Graurückentangare: P. L. Sclater and Salvin 1871, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1870 (publ. 1871): 784, pl. 46. Holotype, Adult male. Reg. no. 1885.6.12.885. Paramos of Merida, Venezuela, 1870. Collected by A. Goering. Sclater Collection.

literature

  • Philip Lutles Sclater, Osbert Salvin: On Venezuelan Birds collected by Mr. A. Goering. Part I., Part II. And Part III . In: Proceedings of the scientific meetings of the Zoological Society of London for the year 1868. pp. 165-173 and 1869, pp. 626-632, pp. 250ff.
  • Philip Lutles Sclater: Catalog of the Birds in the British Museum. British Museum (Natural History), Department of Zoology, London 1888.
  • Walter Dupouy: Venezuela a century ago, pictures by Anton Goering. Asociacion Cultura Humboldt, Caracas 1969.
  • Rudolf Piechocki: Anton Goering (1836–1905). Ornithologist, natural history collector and painter. In: Mauritania. 14, 1993 ( PDF on ZOBODAT ).
  • Franziska Engemann: From Schönhaide to South America. The ornithologist, draftsman and painter Anton Goering. In: Roland Krischke (Ed.): Humboldt 4 . Four exhibitions in four museums in the Altenburger Land. Altenburg 2019, ISBN 978-3-86104-099-6 , pp. 59-79.

Exhibitions and lectures

  • 2019 Museum Burg Posterstein - themed exhibition humboldt 4 : From Schönhaide to South America - the ornithologist, draftsman and painter Anton Goering
  • 1882 Altenburg - art exhibition in the ducal court theater
  • 1880 Eisenberg - Art exhibition and scientific lecture for the research trip to Venezuela in the auditorium of the high school

Web links

Commons : Christian Anton Goering  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Die Gartenlaube pages (1879)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : The North American Bird World (1889)  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files
Wikisource: Christian Anton Goering  - Sources and full texts

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Thuringia State Archives - Altenburg State Archives, Lindenau-Zach'sche Foundation, 1-96-0224
  2. ^ Hugo Hildebrandt, Richard Heyder: Contributions to the history of ornithology of Saxony and its border areas II - the peasant ornithologists of the Easter country: with two tables . In: Messages from the Association of Saxon Ornithologists . 1933, p. 39 ff . ( PDF on ZOBODAT ).
  3. ^ Anton Goering: Memories of the old Brehm. In: Ornithological monthly magazine. 21, 1896, pp. 106-111.
  4. ^ Anton Goering: Memories of the old Brehm. In: Ornithological monthly magazine. 21, 1896, pp. 106-111.
  5. ^ Otto Taschenberg: History of zoology and the zoological collections at the University of Halle 1694-1894. Halle 1921, p. 90.
  6. ^ Otto Taschenberg: History of zoology and the zoological collections at the University of Halle 1694-1894. Halle 1921, p. 91.
  7. ↑ Inventory No. 50: Acts of the administrative commission of the Lindenau-Zachschen Foundation regarding the accounting and cash management 1855–1879, Altenburg State Archives.
  8. ↑ Inventory No. 50: Acts of the administrative commission of the Lindenau-Zachschen Foundation regarding the accounting and cash management 1855–1879, Altenburg State Archives.
  9. ^ Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography, Anton Goering estate, 291/3.
  10. ^ Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography, Anton Goering estate, 291/3.
  11. ^ Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography, Anton Goering estate, 291/3.
  12. ^ Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography, Anton Goering estate, 291/3.
  13. ^ Otto Taschenberg: History of zoology and the zoological collections at the University of Halle 1694-1894. Halle 1921, p. 80.
  14. ↑ Anton Goering: From the tropical lowlands to eternal snow. A picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela. Aldalbert Fischer's Verlag, Leipzig 1893, p. 2.
  15. ^ Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Archive for Geography, Anton Goering estate, 291/4.
  16. ^ Anton Goering: Letter to Nicolaus Trübner. In: Globus. Illustrated magazine for country and ethnology. Volume 12, 1867, p. 156.
  17. ^ Franco P. Urbani: International Speleology. The longest and deepest caves in Venezuela . Ed .: Association of Austrian Speleologists. tape 19 , 1968 ( PDF on ZOBODAT [accessed December 21, 2019]).
  18. ↑ Anton Goering: From the tropical lowlands to eternal snow. A picturesque description of the most beautiful tropical country Venezuela. Aldalbert Fischer's Verlag, Leipzig 1893.
  19. ↑ Brehm's Thierleben. General customer of the animal kingdom. Fourth Volume, Second Section: Birds. First volume: parrots, light bills, humming birds, woodpeckers and birds of prey. Verlag des Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1882, pp. 356–362. (zeno.org)
  20. ↑ Philip Lutley Sclater, Osbert Salvin: On Venezuelan Birds collected by Mr. A. Goering. Part I. u. II. In: Proceedings of the scientific meetings of the Zoological Society of London for the year 1868. pp. 165-173 and pp. 626-632.
  21. ^ Museum Burg Posterstein: Blog post from Schönhaide to South America - The ornithologist, draftsman and painter Anton Goering (as of October 23, 2019).
  22. ^ Stadtarchiv Eisenberg: Eisenbergisches Nachrichtenblatt, Edition 62, No. 62 May 26, 1882 , (as of November 22, 2019).
  23. ↑ Stadtarchiv Eisenberg: Eisenbergisches Nachrichtenblatt, Issue 22, No. 22 February 20, 1880 , (as of November 22, 2019).
personal data
SURNAME Goering, Anton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Goering, A .; Goering, C. Anton; Goering, Christian Anton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German explorer, scientist, painter and graphic artist
DATE OF BIRTH September 18, 1836
PLACE OF BIRTH Fairhaide
DATE OF DEATH December 7, 1905
Place of death Leipzig