Four times of the day
The "Four Times of the Day" are a listed group of statues designed by Johannes Schilling for the northern staircase of the Brühl Terrace in Dresden . The originals, which stood in this place from 1868 to 1908, have been in Chemnitz since then, and in the park at the castle pond there since 1936. In Dresden they were replaced by bronze casts in 1908.
History and execution
A competition announced in 1860 for the redesign of the open staircase was intended to replace two sandstone lions by Christian Gottlieb Kühn that were erected by the staircase . These are now at the southern end of the Querallee of the Great Garden . The themes of times of day, seasons, art, poetry, trade and poetry as well as art and nature with two goddesses of peace were available as a template for the design of the four figures.
He won the competition with his designs for the four times of the day, for which Schilling received first prize at the Vienna Art Exhibition in 1869. He received the contract after a competition of seven artists, whereby King Johann recommended that the second-placed "Four Times of the Day" should be performed instead of the winner's prize. After another revision, the drafts were approved in 1862. The sculptor Franz Schwarz carried out the work.
Seen from the Schloßplatz , the allegorical representations "Evening" and "Night" have been located since 1868, from left to right, and since 1871, "Morning" and "Day" have been shown above.
Bronze casts have replaced the four original sandstone figures since 1908. Weather conditions made this exchange necessary. An attempt at gilding was made in 1883, but failed, so that the decision was made in 1905 to replace it with bronze casts.
History of the whereabouts of the originals in Chemnitz
In 1898 the originals were donated to the city of Chemnitz by King Albert and ten years later, in 1908, they arrived where they first adorned the stairs between Theaterplatz and Schillerpark in front of the Petrikirche . In 1928 they had to give way to the new building of the Hotel Chemnitzer Hof and in 1936 they were re-erected on the staircase in front of the fountain in Chemnitzer Schlossteichpark ( 50 ° 50 '24 " N , 12 ° 54' 39" E ).
From September 2010 to October 2011, the figures were covered for restoration work. The sandstone was desalinated and parts destroyed by vandalism were replaced. During the winter months, the sandstone figures in Chemnitz are now protected from the weather by glass covers.
Between August and November 2017, the figures were subjected to another restoration, during which they were cleaned of environmental debris and graffiti by hand. In addition, cracks, crumbling and other damage, some of which were caused by vandalism, were repaired. Finally, in coordination with the monument protection authority, a paint made of silicone resin was applied, which was modeled on freshly processed, Saxon sandstone and is intended to prevent the figures from decaying.
Four groups of figures
The times of day are symbolized by Schilling by groups of figures. These consist of a main character, who is alternately female or male, and two accompanying children as assistant characters. The upper figures are shown standing and broken up with transparent hollow spaces, the lower figures are seated and are grouped together in a more block-like manner.
- The Dresden figure groups
The morning"
The "noon"
The evening"
The night"
- The Chemnitz figure groups (former Dresden originals)
The morning"
The "noon"
The evening"
The night"
The "morning" with awakening and morning dew
The first group, standing on the top step of the famous terrace staircase, represents the “morning”. Above all, a fresh, wonderful female figure can be seen, with the morning star shining in her hair . Strengthened from sleep, she airs her clothes and breathes a sigh of relief, happy to be able to start the day's work again. A girl stands by her side, who is just waking up, fastening the sandal to her foot and on the other side a second girl who is watering the flowers from a dew jar.
The “noon” with work and striving The second group, also adorning the top of the stairs, represents “noon”. A male figure, the head adorned with a crown of rays, holds up the wreath of glory with his right hand . A youth raises his hand towards it, indicating the pursuit of fame, while next to it a boy figure, working with a spade, illustrates the simple day-to-day work.
The "evening" with music and dance
At the foot of the stairs, the magnificent figures of the evening and night group rise. The "Evening" is represented by a strong man figure who leaves after completion of daily tasks to the comfortable enjoyment, while the lyre listening of resting his feet girls while a second, a tambourine in hand, is preparing for the dance.
The "night" with sleep (Hypnos) and dream (Morpheus)
The "night" is even more beautiful. She is intended as a female figure. She sits there with the crescent moon over her forehead, protecting her robe around a boy who has fallen asleep, while the winged Morpheus whispers sweet dreams to the slumbering man.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Manfred Zumpe: The Brühl terrace in Dresden . Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin 1991, ISBN 3-345-00207-8 . Pp. 223-227.
- ↑ Manfred Zumpe: The Brühl terrace in Dresden . Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin 1991, ISBN 3-345-00207-8 . P. 227.
- ↑ Manfred Zumpe: The Brühl terrace in Dresden . Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin 1991, ISBN 3-345-00207-8 . P. 223.
- ^ SLUB Dresden: Dresdner Nachrichten: November 15, 1886. Retrieved on July 5, 2020 (German).
- ^ SLUB Dresden: 01 early edition of Dresdner Nachrichten: October 5th, 1902. Retrieved on July 5, 2020 (German).
- ↑ Manfred Zumpe: The Brühl terrace in Dresden . Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin 1991, ISBN 3-345-00207-8 . P. 227.
- ↑ Manfred Zumpe: The Brühl terrace in Dresden . Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin 1991, ISBN 3-345-00207-8 . P. 227.
- ^ Moist compresses for Schilling figures , article in Freie Presse, June 9, 2010
- ↑ Schilling's figures are visible again , article in Freie Presse, October 20, 2011
Coordinates: 51 ° 3 ′ 13 ″ N , 13 ° 44 ′ 20.7 ″ E