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

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

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

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