Valentine with temple, putto, and German poetry

ca. 1840
Not on view
This elegant greeting card is a sentimental collage. A 5 mm. embossed golden paper frame borders a base layer of beige chiffon. The central embellishment is a gold embossed temple, possibly a tomb, with the word “EINNERUNG” (remembrance) carved upon the lintel. There are carved columns of mother-of-pearl (nacre) with the shell absent from one column. Inside the open structure is a golden statue of Cupid with his bow. There are weeping branches above the tomb, and a space on the top where there was once moss, set in a flowery glade. There is a silver (paper) lake, pine trees and blue painted mountains in the distance. An engraved poem in German is at the bottom.

This is a signed piece by Johannes Endletzberger, 1782-1850, who was the best-known maker of these Biedermeier-era cards; affixing precious components in a collage was his famous design.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Valentine with temple, putto, and German poetry
  • Artist: Johannes Endletzberger (Austrian, 1782–1850)
  • Date: ca. 1840
  • Medium: Golden embossed paper border, embossed paper embellishments, clay-like flowers, beige chiffon fabric, gold paper die-cut, nacre (mother-of-pearl), silver paper, watercolor.
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 2 7/8 × 3 3/8 in. (7.3 × 8.6 cm)
  • Classification: Ephemera
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Richard Riddell, 1964
  • Object Number: 1964.1164.2019
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.