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Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)
Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) of Johan Jacob Hautz
Christian Mertel
1796
Category
Works on Paper
Creator/Artist/Maker
Christian Mertel (Scrivener and decorator)
Place of Origin
ConewagoTownship; Pennsylvania; Dauphin; Mid-Atlantic; United States; North America
Materials
- Ink
- Watercolor
- Paper (laid)
Museum Object Number
1957.1188 A
Credit Line/Donor
Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont
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Complete Details
Object Number
1957.1188 A
Object Name
Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)
Title
Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) of Johan Jacob Hautz
Category
Works on Paper
Creator (Role)
Christian Mertel (Scrivener and decorator)
Place of Origin
ConewagoTownship; Pennsylvania; Dauphin; Mid-Atlantic; United States; North America
Origin Notes
Christian Mertel purchased land in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County in 1793 and lived there until his death in 1802. This area is now part of Conewago Township, Dauphin County.
The last line of the inscription reads (translation): "that your children may grow up as the cedars of Lebanon" which has caused some confusion as to where Mertel was working. As the full text reveals, this was a Biblical reference to Lebanon, not to the town or county in Pennsylvania.
Date
1796
Materials
- Ink
- Watercolor
- Paper (laid)
Techniques
- Drawn
- Hand colored
- Hand lettered
- Painted
Dimensions (inches)
12.6 (H) x 14.4 (W)
Dimensions (centimeters)
32 (H) x 36.6 (W)
Measurement Notes
H at left. W at bottom. Chain intervals: 2.6-2.9 cm.
Edition Watermark
none
Coloring
Hand colored with watercolors
Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes
Book: Hutchins, Catherine E., et al. 1983 Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans.
• Published as fig. 229, p. 239.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. 546.Article: Weiser, Frederick S. 1987 Christian Mertel, the "C M artist". Der Reggeboge: Journal of the Pennsylvania German Society. 21 (2): 75-85.
• For more info. on this artist, see pp. 75-85.