Merian's Stuttgart views
Merian's Stuttgart views were partly created during his stay in Stuttgart on the occasion of the pompous christening celebrations for the duke's son in 1616. Between 1616 and 1643, the engraver Matthäus Merian used his Stuttgart hand drawings and models from other artists for Stuttgart views, which he used as etchings published in compilations or as single sheets.
In 1616, Matthäus Merian stayed in Stuttgart to attend the baptism celebrations for the future Duke Friedrich von Württemberg. On this occasion, a large number of etchings were made, which were published in a book about the christening celebrations, including a picture of the pleasure garden and a picture of the magnificent fireworks that were burned down at the end of the celebrations. On a single sheet of paper he portrayed the father of the person to be baptized, Duke Johann Friedrich von Württemberg, in an equestrian image against the background of a cityscape of Stuttgart.
In the following years Merian used his Stuttgart hand drawings, but also preliminary drawings by other artists, to create detailed views of Stuttgart. In addition to two other views of the pleasure garden, he created three views of the Stuttgart lakes, three views of Cannstatt , four views of the village of Berg near Stuttgart and one view of Untertürkheim by 1643 . He designed seven of these etchings to illustrate the sayings and epithets of emblems , a popular art and literature genre of the Renaissance . Merian's best-known Stuttgart etching is the bird's diagram of Stuttgart (see cover picture), on which he combines a city view and a map.
In the following the 18 well-known Stuttgart views by Matthäus Merian are shown.
Note: Schefold numbers, for example “Schefold 8123”, refer to Max Schefold's catalog “Old Views from Württemberg” ( #Schefold 1957 ).
Stuttgart
Views
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“Die Fürst [liche] Statt Stuetgart”, bird chart of Stuttgart, copper plate by Matthäus Merian, 1638, first book publication 1643, 209 × 322 mm. Schefold 7790. Source of the illustration: Facsimile of a colored photolithography, publisher: Stadtmessungsamt Stuttgart, no year, online .
View from the Geroksruhe in the southeast of the city of Stuttgart. The bird's eye view combines the city view and the city map and is not oriented to the north, but to Königstrasse (then “Großer Graben”), which runs horizontally through the picture. Within the city wall with its towers and gates, the city center can be seen in the middle and to the right of it the pleasure garden, whose “largely incorrect” rendering is criticized by Stefan Gugenhan. Above is the Reiche Vorstadt with part of the two lakes, below the St. Leonhards-Vorstadt. Under the title, the Stuttgart city arms with a jumping horse. At the top right in the laurel wreath the coat of arms of the House of Württemberg. Carpet with the caption hanging from a pole at the bottom right . Source: #Topographia 1643 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 4 , page 78, number 84, #Wais 1954.2 , page 216-219, plate 37, #Bach 1896 , page 79-80, #Schefold 1957 , page 566, #Gugenhan 1997 , page 25, # Borst 1973 , contains an additional legend with 77 index digits. |
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Equestrian image of Duke Johann Friedrich von Württemberg with a view of Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1616, 320 × 262 mm. Schefold 7788.Source of the illustration: #Wais 1954.2 , plate 7.
Large equestrian image. To the left, on a mounted horse, sits the Duke, armed in armor, the scepter in his right hand, the reins in his left. Above right the Württemberg coat of arms. Rear view of the city of Stuttgart from the west. From the Reinsburg, the viewer can see the entire southwest side of the city with the wall from the Powder Tower (left) via the Rotebildtor, the Torture Tower and the Seeltor to the Hauptstätter Gate. In the middle the collegiate church and the old castle, on the right the Leonhardskirche. In front of the city there is a parade of mounted and infantry, as was customary at the time when Württemberg had to provide a contingent of troops to the Swabian district . Source: single sheet. Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 650, figure 384, #Wais 1954.2 , pp. 170–172, plate 7, #Schefold 1957 , page 566. |
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“Bey Stuttgart”, emblem with a scorpion and a view of Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 119 × 164 mm. Schefold 7784.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 . - The reversed image in the original was mirrored in the illustration, so the title of the image is displayed in mirror writing.
View from the southeast from the Bopser. Front center: Bopserbrunnen , left center: ruins of Weißenburg, further back, from left: tower of the old castle, outer Eßlinger Tor (with two towers), behind it the pleasure house, to the right of it the Lustgarten wall up to the Jerusalem tower, further to the right the water tower in Stöckach , in the background center the Wolframshalde with the triangular gallows (left) and the high iron gallows. The scorpion illustrates the saying “Clavus clavo tunditur” (“One nail drives the other”) and symbolizes the saying “What you don't want to be done to you, don't do it to anyone else”. The epiphany reads: “Don't hurt, stay unhurt, Truck Scorpio, you hit last” (Don't hurt, then you stay unhurt too, if you squeeze the scorpion, you end up with poison). Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 450, figure 230, #Wais 1954.2 , page 176, plate 10, #Schefold 1957 , page 566. |
Lusthaus and Lustgarten
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“Furstlicher Lustgarten zu Stuettgartt”, etching by Matthäus Merian after a drawing by Georg Donauer, 1616, 232 × 336 mm. Signed: Matth. Merian fe. (Matthaeus Merian fecit, executed by Matthäus Merian). Below: caption . Schefold 8120a. Source of the illustration: #Wais 1954.2 , plate 8.
Stefan Gugenhan: “Probably the best-known depiction of the pleasure garden is the engraving 'Fürstlicher Lustgarten zu Stuettgartt' by Matthaeus Merian. ... The engraving gives a good impression of the garden and its buildings, but sometimes it shows noticeably wrong proportions and also incorrect details. " Source: #Repraesentatio 1616 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 143, figure 100, # Wüthrich 2007 , page 81, #Wais 1951.1 , page 334, #Wais 1954.2 , page 172, plate 8, #Gugenhan 1997 , pages 23-24, #Schefold 1957 , Page 591. |
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Lustgarten zu Stuttgart, pen drawing by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 108 × 203 mm. Source of the illustration: #Wais 1954.2 , plate 9. - Template for the etching, see next illustration.
Stefan Gugenhan: "The Neue Lusthaus looks wider on this drawing, but the Neue Rennbahn appears to be offset to the side, incomprehensibly." Source: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Graphic Collection, inventory number 6101. Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 516, #Wais 1954.2 , page 172, plate 9, #Gugenhan 1997 , pages 24-25, #Schefold 1957 , page 591, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart . |
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“Lustgarten zu Stutgart”, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 109 × 162 mm. Signed: PA Exc. - MMerian fecit (Peter Aubry Excudit - Matthaeus Merian fecit, printing: Peter Aubry - execution: Matthäus Merian). Illustration: #Novae 1624 . - A preliminary drawing by Mattäus Merian served as a template, see previous illustration.
Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 516, figure 296, #Wais 1954.2 , page 172, plate 9, # Wüthrich 2007 , page 81, #Gugenhan 1997 , pages 24-25, #Schefold 1957 , page 591. |
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Emblem with a cocked crossbow and a view of Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1619, round picture, diameter about 8 cm. Illustration: #Zincgref 1666 .
The round picture is taken from a collection of emblems by Julius Wilhelm Zincgref , which illustrates 100 sayings and explains them with four-line epithets. The cocked crossbow stands for the motto "Ni laxes rumpitur" ("Tense hard, soon breaks in two") and symbolizes the saying "Strength lies in calm". The city view shows the Lustgarten and on the right the New Lusthaus, in the background from left to right the New Building, the Old Castle, the Collegiate Church and the Old Chancellery. Source: #Zincgref 1619 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 2 , page 138, number 69, figure 96, #Wais 1954.2 , page 172, #Schefold 1957 , page 591. |
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Fireworks in the Stuttgart Lustgarten, March 17, 1616, etching by Matthäus Merian after a drawing by Georg Donauer, 1616, 357 × 299 mm. Signed: M. Merian fecit (Mattheus Merian fecit, executed by Matthäus Merian). Illustration: # Wüthrich 2007 , page 83.
At the end of the eight-day christening celebrations for Duke Friedrich , fireworks were set off in the Stuttgart pleasure garden. A tower on a replica ship that was built between two pillars of the old racetrack served as the scaffolding. The fire was drawn by the fireworkers with torches from burning oil vats. Spectators crowded around the racetrack and at the windows of the old pleasure house (right). Left the shooting house, right behind the old pleasure house the old castle. Caption (not shown): Contrafacture of the artificial fireworks so when the newborn boy Printzen Friderichen Hertzog zu Wurttemberg & Kindbauffen zu Stuetgart was thrown in the Lustgarten on the 17th of March in 1616. Source: #Repraesentatio 1616 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 216, # Wüthrich 2007 , page 81, #Schefold 1957 , page 591, figure 288. |
Lakes
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"Der See zu Stutgart", emblem with frogs and a view of the Great Lake in Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 121 × 167 mm. Schefold 7786. Illustration: #Novae 1624 . - The reversed image in the original was mirrored in the illustration, so the title of the image is displayed in mirror writing.
View of the Great or Lower Lake from the Büchsentor. The city wall runs right to the Seegassentor. In the back right the Uhlandshöhe , to the left of the Ameisenberg and the Berger Church, to the left behind the foot of the rose stone the tower of the Cannstatter Stadtkirche. Storks fly in the sky, and one carries a snake in its beak. “Today the bank in the foreground is Büchsenstraße, the bank on the right is Schloßstraße, and the final embankment in the background is Friedrichstraße. The city garden and the new buildings of the Technical University (now the University of Technology and University Library) now stand on the lake area. The motto “Spes altera vitae” (“Hope for another life”) is illustrated by the epiphany “Frog lives dead in the Lentz winter time, awakened by death, man lives through God”. Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 452, figure 232, #Wais 1954.2 , page 177, plate 11, #Schefold 1957 , page 566. |
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“The big lake in Stuttgart with laundresses”, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1616/1617, 128 × 165 mm. Signed (below the picture, not shown): Math. Merian. fecit et excu. Oppenheimi (Mattheus Merian fecit et excudit Oppenheimi, execution and printing: Matthäus Merian, Oppenheim ). Source of the figure: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , Figure 112. - The reversed image in the original was mirrored in the figure.
View of the Great or Lower Lake from the Seegassentor. On the left the city wall, on the right a farmhouse with a maid, ladder, dung heap, goat and dog, in between three washerwomen. In the lake a rider and a swan. Mercury flying in the upper right . Source: single sheet. Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 233, figure 112 (etching), 401 (preliminary drawing, right side up), #Schefold 1957 , page 566. |
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"Schießreyn zu Stutgart", emblem with squid and view of the shooting range at Büchsensee in Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 120 × 163 mm. Schefold 7785.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 . - The reversed image in the original was mirrored in the illustration, so the title of the image is displayed in mirror writing.
View of the Oberen or Büchsensee with the rifle or shooting house on the left bank and the shooting range with the targets. The motto "Νόμος καὶ χῶρα" ("Other countries, other customs") is illustrated by the epilogue "Many a country, so some customs are, color pulp gschwind after the place" (... depending on the place the octopus changes color). Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 453, figure 233, #Wais 1954.2 , page 177-180, 115-116, plate 11, #Schefold 1957 , page 566. |
Bad Cannstatt
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“The Neckar near Kannstatt”, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 112 × 149 mm. Signed: PA Ex. - Merian fec. (Peter Aubry excudit - Mattheus Merian fecit, printing: Peter Aubry - execution: Matthäus Merian). Schefold 8787.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 .
View of a wide valley landscape with the winding Neckar near Cannstatt , in the front left a hill with a crippled oak, underneath two hunters with six dogs, behind a hill with a castle, in the back left above the valley a village with a church, on the right the Cannstatter city church and on the bank of the bridge tower with the Neckartor , high mountains in the background. Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 517, figure 297, #Schefold 1957 , page 638. |
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"Kanstatt", emblem with cuckoo and view of Cannstatt, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 120 × 164 mm. Schefold 8788.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 .
View from the northeast of the Neckar and the Neckar Bridge, Cannstatt on both sides , the city church on the left and the bridge tower with the Neckartor on the bank. In the front left, a cuckoo is stealing from the nest of its brood host on a crippled tree. To the right of it a transverse thorn bush and a hunter with a dog. In the background on the right the village of Berg with the Berger Church. The ungrateful gauch (cuckoo), who steals in the nest of his brood host, illustrates the motto “Mundi gratia” (“Ingratitude is the world's reward”). Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 449, figure 229, #Schefold 1957 , page 638. |
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“Canstatt”, view of Cannstatt from the southwest, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1643, 105 × 324 mm. Schefold 8790.Source of the illustration: #Topographia 1643 . View from the southwest of the Neckar with Neckar Bridge, Cannstatt on both sides , the town church on the right and the bridge tower with the Neckartor on the bank. In the background left the village of Münster . On the right a small hamlet (erroneously called "Berck" = mountain ) with the Uff church. In the upper right corner the Cannstatt coat of arms with the symbol of a communion jug. Source: #Topographia 1643 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 4 , page 71, number 28, #Schefold 1957 , page 638, #Hagel 2007 , page 54. |
mountain
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“Berck am Necker”, emblem with Bellerophon and Pegasus and a view of Berg am Neckar, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 118 × 167 mm. Schefold 8699.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 . - The reversed image in the original was mirrored in the illustration, so the title of the image is displayed in mirror writing.
High in the air, Bellerophon falls from his winged horse, Pegasus. Spectators in the foreground watch the death fall. On the right the Neckar flows, at the Neckarbrücke you can see Cannstatt with the city church. In the middle distance left on a hill is the Berger Church. The saying “Ne nimis alta pete” (“He who climbs up, falls deeply”) is illustrated by Bellerophon, who fell from his winged horse and fell to the ground. The epithet reads: "Don't climb too high, Bellerophon, Gen Himml rides, to the earth felt with mockery". Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 459, figure 239, #Wais 1951.1 , page 85, #Schefold 1957 , page 632. |
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“Bergk bey Stutgart”, view of Berg near Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 120 × 179 cm. Signed: PA Ex. (Peter Aubry excudit, printed by Peter Aubry). Schefold 8697.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 .
Looking north to the village of Berg near Stuttgart. On the right a gnarled oak, in the middle a spreading deciduous tree, between the trees on the path a woman sitting with Hotte, a hiker and a rider. In the middle distance a plowing farmer with a horse, on the left the Berger Church on a hill. Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 497, figure 277, #Schefold 1957 , page 632. |
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View to the north of the mill and mill canal in the village of Berg near Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, around 1620/1622, 111 × 171 mm. Signed: M. Merian fec. - P. Aub. Ex. (Mattheus Merian fecit - Peter Aubry excudit, execution: Matthäus Merian - printing: Peter Aubry). Schefold 8698. Source of the illustration: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , illustration 307. - The image, which was reversed in the original, was mirrored in the illustration.
Looking north to the village of Berg near Stuttgart. In front of the Mühlkanal, country folk in the vegetable garden. In the middle distance the Berger church and the mill building. In the background Cannstatt with the city church. Source: single sheet. Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 527, figure 307, #Schefold 1957 , page 632. |
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View to the south of the mill and mill canal in the village of Berg near Stuttgart, etching by Matthäus Merian, around 1620/1622, 130 × 170 mm. Source of the illustration: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , illustration 308. - The reversed image in the original has been mirrored in the illustration.
At the front a double-yoke bridge leads over the Mühlkanal, which flows into the Neckar. A man with a dog approaches from the right. Left the union of the Mühlkanal and Neckar. In the back the mill building. The Berger Church on the top right of the hill. Source: single sheet. Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 528, figure 308 (etching), 402 (preliminary drawing), #Schefold 1957 , page 632. |
Untertürkheim
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"Türckheim am Necker", emblem with a view of the village of Untertürkheim near Stuttgart and farmers with cows, etching by Matthäus Merian, 1624, 120 × 167 mm. Schefold 10328.Source of the illustration: #Novae 1624 .
On the left a well, behind it a gnarled oak, on the right a tall linden tree with a beamed gallery as an arbor. In the background the Neckar with the Neckar Bridge and the village of Untertürkheim with the Church of St. Germanus before the destruction in 1634. The saying “Aut verba, aut verbera” (“Beatings and good words”) is illustrated by a woman who lures two cows with salt while two farmers push and beat the cows. Source: #Novae 1624 . Literature: # Merian-Druckgraphik 1 , number 460, figure 240, #Schefold 1957 , page 759. |
Book publications
- Novae regionum aliquot amaenissimarum delineationes. Ex naturali locorum. Positu de sumptae, et aeri incisae. Per Mattheum Merianum Basiliensem. Anno 1624. Peter Aubry Excudit Argent: Strasbourg: Aubry, 1624, online .
- Representation of the Princely Elevator and Ritterspil. For example, the translucent Hochgeborn Furst and Mr. Johan Friderich Hertzog zu Württemberg, and Teeckh. Grave zue Montpellgart Herr zu Haidenheim. etc. by yours. Fl. G. Neuwborn son Friderich Hertzog zu Württemberg. etc. Princely christening of children, because 10th bit up for 17 Marty, Anno. 1616. Inn of the Princely Main Place Stuetgarten, held with a large solennite. Everything made with special care in truck. By Esaiam van Hulsen. - Georgius Thonauwer, Inventor, Mattheus Merian. Basiliensis, fecit [design: Georg Donauer, execution: Matthäus Merian, Basel]. Stuttgart: Esaias van Hulsen, 1616, online .
- Martin Zeiller (text); Matthäus Merian (illustration): Topographia Sueviae that is a description: and actual contract management of the most prestigious places and places in Upper and Nider Swabia, Hertzogthum Würtenberg Marggraff creates Baden and other landscapes and places belonging to the Hochlöbl: Schwabischen Craiße. Given on day and published by Matthaeum Merian. Frankfurt am Main: Matthäus Merian, 1643, online , Wikisource .
- Julius Wilhelm Zincgref : Emblematum Ethico-Politicorum Centuria , panel LXIX.
literature
- Max Bach (editor); Carl Lotter: Pictures from old Stuttgart. Stuttgart 1896.
- Hansmartin Decker-Hauff : History of the City of Stuttgart, Volume 1. Stuttgart 1966.
- Stefan Gugenhan: The royal gardens of Stuttgart in the 16th and 17th centuries. Stuttgart 1997.
- Jürgen Hagel: Cannstatt and its history. Stuttgart 2007.
- Max Schefold: Old Views from Württemberg, Volume 2: Catalog part. Stuttgart 1957.
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Gustav Wais :
- Old Stuttgart buildings in the picture: 640 pictures, including 2 colored ones, with explanations of city history, architectural history and art history. Stuttgart 1951, reprint Frankfurt am Main 1977.
- Old Stuttgart. The oldest buildings, views and city plans up to 1800. With city history, architectural history and art history explanations. Stuttgart 1954.
- Lucas Heinrich Wüthrich: The graphic work of Matthaeus Merian d. Ae.
- 1. Single sheets and sheet sequences. Taking into account the questionable and incorrect attributions as well as a list of the newly found hand drawings. Basel 1966.
- 2. The lesser known books and book illustrations. Basel 1972.
- 3. The major book publications I. Hamburg 1993.
- 4. The great book publications II. The topographies. Hamburg 1996.
- Matthaeus Merian d. Ä. : a biography. Hamburg 2007.
Web links
Footnotes
- ↑ #Repraesentatio 1616 .
- ↑ For further editions see #Wais 1954.2 , page 216, and Schefold 7789-7793.
- ↑ #Gugenhan 1997 , page 25.
- ↑ #Wais 1954.2 , page 170.
- ↑ #Gugenhan 1997 , p. 23.
- ↑ # Gugenhan 1997 , pages 24-25.
- ↑ On the etching from 1616 the New Lusthaus is shown too narrow.
- ↑ # Decker-Hauff 1966 , page 284.
- ↑ Illustration without Bellerophon and Pegasus.
- ^ Digitized version of the Herzog August Library Wolfenbüttel with low resolution.