Object Number 1963.0050 A

Object Name

Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)

Title

Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) of Catharina Wottring

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase

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 appears to have worked chiefly in Northampton County.

Date

1801-1814

Materials

Ink; Watercolor; Paper (laid)

Techniques

Drawn, Hand colored, Hand lettered, Painted

Dimensions (inches)

16.1 (H) , 12.9 (W) , 16.1 (Image H) , 12.9 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

40.8 (H) , 32.8 (W) , 16.1 (Image H) , 12.9 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

H at left. W at bottom. Chain intervals: 2.7 cm; 10 laid lines per cm.

Watermark

none

Coloring

Hand colored with watercolors

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Article] Evans, Nancy Goyne. 03//1973 Documented Fraktur in the Winterthur Collection: Part II. Antiques. 103 (3): 539-49.
• Published as fig. 1, pp. 539-40.
[Article] Fabian, Monroe H. 1973 "The Easton Bible artist identified". Pennsylvania Folklife. 22 (2): 2-14.
• Published
[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.