Album of 6 Watercolour drawings on vellum illustrating poems by Ludwig Uhland.

[Retzsch (Friedrich August Moritz), attributed to]

Published by c, 1830

About this Item

drawings in watercolour on vellum panels (100 x 142 mm) mounted on album leaves (approx 270 x 210 mm), these leaves with double gilt ruled borders and with tissue guards (some guards with pencil tracing on them), 1 of the vellum panels lifting slightly from its mount, other blank leaves, the texts written in a scrawling hand (typical of the period), presumably Retzsch's, oblong 4to, contemporary presentation vellum, elaborate gilt tooled borders on sides, initials C. R. in gilt at the centre of the upper cover, spine gilt, gilt inner dentelles, pale blue watered silk doublures and facing end-paper (bookplate removed), gilt edges, slightly warped, in its original velvet lined purple straight-grained morocco folding box, the velvet browned, some wear and abrasions to box, the catch not catching. Unsigned (Retzsch was in the habit of not signing his works) illustrations to poems by Ludwig Uhland, the first being Der blinde König (first published in 1815). All the circumstantial evidence points to Retzsch as the artist. Retzsch (1779-1857) achieved international fame with illustrations to classics of world literature. Among the most popular are Goethe's 'Faust' and Schiller's poem 'The Song of the Bell'. He does not seem to have published any illustrations for Uhland, though of course Uhland is 'right up his street.' Retzsch was very popular in England, where works of his were published (as they were in France), including his Gallery of Shakespeare, 3 parts, 1828-32. He is recorded as having given albums as birthday and Christmas presents to his wife Christiane (the C. R on the upper board). The drawings here are exquisitely executed, with an abundance of minute detail, and variety of texture. On Retzch see Viola Hildebrand-Schat, Zeichnung im Dienste der Literaturvermittlung: Moritz Retzschs Illustrationen als Ausdruck bürgerlichen Kunstverstehens, Würzburg, Koenigshausen & Neumann, 2004.

Seller Inventory # 65599

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Album of 6 Watercolour drawings on vellum illustrating poems by Ludwig Uhland.
• Publisher: c
• Publication Date: 1830
• Seller catalogs:
  • Art & Architecture