Sibylla Schuster

Sibylla Schuster (born Neuthard ; * February 5, 1639 in Memmingen ; † May 19, 1685 in Deiningen ) was a writer and poet in the Baroque period .

Life

Sibylla Neuthard was born in Memmingen in Upper Swabia as the daughter of the goldsmith and seal cutter Hans Jakob Neuthard. Her mother Regina was the daughter of Peter Funk, the Protestant pastor of the Church of Our Women in Memmingen. Her godparents were Junker Tobias Albrecht, war councilor and privy councilor in Memmingen and the virgin Susanna Funkin. She was the first of eleven children. It was given into the grandparents' household from an early age. It is assumed that Sibylla was able to acquire her knowledge mainly through the large library of her grandfather. During her school days she was already noticed by the teachers because of her “excellent memory” and “deep understanding”. The eight-year-old surprised her school visitator at the time, M. Christopherus Mack the Elder, that she could even recite the Sunday sermon by heart. To encourage the other students as well, he gave them presents several times.

After the grandparents passed away, Sibylla Neuthard lived for a short time again with her mother, who brought her closer to the life of the woman at the time. In her curriculum vitae it is noted: "For domestic work, spinning, sewing and looking used to, in which you have also acquired a good skill". Instead of hanging out with the youth of her age, she preferred to read the Bible and other edifying secular and spiritual books. After the mother died shortly afterwards, she lived with her aunt for twelve years. In their economy she managed the cellar and kept the accounts. After the aunt's husband died in 1668, his business license was withdrawn. The 29-year-old Sibylla then moved in with her widowed cousin, with whom she occupied herself with silver and silk embroidery, carpet sewing and other art work.

Sibylla Neuthard did not marry Michael Schuster (1649–1693), the son of the Memmingen pastor Daniel Schuster, until the age of 39, in 1678. Her husband shared with her a passion for German poetry. He had loved her for a long time, because as early as 1668 he had dedicated his mixed game Punished Slander and Rewarded Fear of God to her. After the marriage, the couple moved to Heroldingen , as Michel Schuster was given a pastor's position there. The marriage is said to have been happy. In Heroldingen both had the opportunity to indulge their inclination for poetry. They were able to get involved in the Oetgische Blumengesellschaft (also called Oettinger Blumengenossen ), which formed the spiritual and cultural center at the court of Prince Albrecht Ernst I of Oettingen-Oettingen . Besides the prince, the circle consisted mainly of Reformed clergymen and teachers and dealt with the care of poetry.

The Schuster couple had two children. After a long illness, Sibylla Schuster died at the age of 46.

Works

• Perverted, converted and contradicted Ophiletes , tragedy, Oettingen: Rolk 1685 (published by her husband after the author's death) (OCLC 974846315).
• Joyful conversation of the Nekker nymphs with the Wernitz and Eger goddesses, Uber die Hoch-Fürstliche Oettingische happily completed marriage , S. L., [1665] (OCLC 631627620).
• Song of lament and prayer about the comet
• A nymph poem

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The life dates come from the résumé written by her husband in the appendix to the drama Ophiletes , p. 32ff.

literature

• Hugo Holstein:  Schuster, Martin . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 33, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1891, pp. 104-106. (also biographed there)

Text published on the occasion of her death with contributions by several people

• A soul full of fear, consolation and sadness / refreshment / From the Davidic words: What are you saddening yourself / my soul! [Etc. Psalm XLII. 12. Bey people-rich funeral on May 21 of this 1685th year / The former grand honor with art and virtue highly-gifted women Sibyllen Schusterin / born Neutardin / Deß ... Mr. M. Michael Schusters / Hoch-Fürstl. Oettingis. Guardian of the loyal and zealous pastor to Deiningen and Zimmer. Dearest spouse, Oettingen: Rolk 1685 (OCLC 836616300).