Object Number 1954.0054 A

Object Name

Fraktur (Drawing)

Title

The Prodigal Son

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase

Creator (Role)

Friedrich Krebs (Artist)-1815
References: Weiser, "The Mad, Lovable World of Frederick Krebs," Der Reggeboge, 1988, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 49-88; Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, p. 237-44. Krebs was the most prolific fraktur artist in America. It is believed he (like Christian Strenge) was a Hessian soldier who either stayed or returned to the United States after the Revolutionary War. He purchased thousands of printed birth and baptismal certificates from varous Reading printers.

Place of Origin

Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Krebs was a schoolmaster in Swatara Township and lived west of Hummelstown in Dauphin County.

Date

1790-1815

Subjects

Prodigal Son; Religious imagery; Allegory

Materials

Ink; Watercolor; Paper (laid)

Techniques

Drawn, Hand colored, Hand lettered, Woodblock, Painted

Dimensions (inches)

15.5 (H) , 12.1 (W) , 15 (Image H) , 11.87 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

39.3 (H) , 30.8 (W) , 15 (Image H) , 11.87 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

H at left. W at bottom. Overall image measurements by sight, in frame; not in conservation files. Chain intervals: 2.7-2.8 cm; 9 laid lines per cm.

Watermark

AIM (or "HM" conjoined)

Coloring

Hand colored with watercolors

Edition Notes

Possibly watermark of John Adam Heilman (see Gravell, no. 8).

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Article] Evans, Nancy Goyne. 02//1973 Documented Fraktur in the Winterthur collection, Part I. Antiques. 103 (2): 307-18.
• Published as fig. 9, p. 312 and 314.
[Article] Weiser, Frederick S. 1988 "Ach Wie ist die Welt so Toll! The mad, lovable world of Friedrich Krebs.". Der Reggeboge: Journal of the Pennsylvania German Society. 22 (2): 49-88.
• For a complete four panel set of the Prodigal Son by Krebs, see pp. 76-79.
[Book] Earnest, Russell D. & Earnest, Corinne P. 1997 Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners. 2 vols. 909.
• For information on Friedrich Krebs, see pp. 460-467.