Object Number 1961.1126 A

Object Name

Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)

Title

Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) of Elisabetha Wagner

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Johannes Ernst Spangenberg (Scrivener and decorator)
c. 1755-11//1814
References: Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp. 377-80; Evans, "Documented Fraktur in the Winterthur Collection: Part II," Magazine Antiques (March 1973), vol. 103, no. 3, pp. 539-49; Fabian, "The Easton Bible Artist Identified," Pennsylvania Folklife, Winter 1972, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 2-14. Spangenberg served as a Sergeant Major, Adjutant, and Quartermaster in the Northampton County Militia during the Revolutionary War. Over thrirty examples of his work are known, including two illuminated title pages dated 1789 and 1791. He was known as the Easton Bible Artist (until the early 1970s) for an undated dedicatory page in the Schlatter Bible of the First United Church of Christ in Easton. His work is distinguished by inclusion of figures, including dancers, musicians, children and dogs.

Place of Origin

Williams Township, Northampton, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Primary creation place is birthplace on certificate. Spangenberg also lived in Northampton County.

Date

1802-1814

Materials

Ink; Watercolor; Paper (laid)

Techniques

Drawn, Hand colored, Hand lettered, Painted

Dimensions (inches)

8 (H) , 6.5 (W) , 8 (Image H) , 6.5 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

20.3 (H) , 16.6 (W) , 8 (Image H) , 6.5 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

H and image H taken ¾" from right edge. W and image W taken ¾" from top. Chain intervals: 2.7 cm; 8 laid lines per cm.

Watermark

none

Coloring

Hand colored with watercolors

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Hutchins, Catherine E., et al. 1983 Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans.
• Published as fig. 260, p. 263.
[Book] Earnest, Russell D. & Earnest, Corinne P. 1997 Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners. 2 vols. 909.
• Published on p. 718.
[Article] Fabian, Monroe H. 1973 "The Easton Bible artist identified". Pennsylvania Folklife. 22 (2): 2-14.
• Published as no. 13.