Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
.S347 D74
1996
COPY 2
FT MEADE
GenCol1
AW/\ %...,
Aj.m
A L'8^ V"0’ A% CONO,.^
&¥ AAA *'> . O' *
*4u*
/*o K >bv^ ° '« vox <* ' \a“
AO. « 0 *P< • >p<
♦V* V^^o\o°^
.♦A c, o 6 j. 4x 0tJ
\\
rtv ,(»o, % „ 4fr:::>^>;.
•A v V
* -*-**w: \#
<■>* _ r* Cv AO A. /:
^ «.*A'.
■ %A <r VV
AA ~ v®llP=r ° c3 ^o Z ... . . Qj
? % vSSSX* A
A *, ¥¥> -G
*.r^°*^%^/S^’ ,
"* Ay
,-
^ ^
X *9.
^jik^v
t^ G
.• <* V
<>> ^<5- >, ° *•
.OKC, 4 . °4> ^
% o A^
^
^ cON C * <■■
'V ' ° ° ’ -^
^ - V'o.VV
O. > c
r .
r
O
^ 'a G *5 * 'o ^ Gu¥
; Ad* : - 'A¥*> ¥V¥< *■ w
° <^°<* *,
^ .V n s.
Y*\ /-v> 0rt S ^* 0 A.
V^OKO^lo /\
; .'^& ? AA .
V,A ♦
<x V > ^ ^
; XrA -aMa
- - <V A J ^lil^
A,
<<? %*
^ (-f.
,0’ <■
o ❖
•Z4^0 * ^ 1 ^\anc aA ° * r
X* ^ << p ^^ vj>
v-o
? \ f |X| ? b ^
. A % *
>o0'°"i>\^AV 7 G^ ❖
^'"’d5‘^t"*,V0”,'A
%f GU * — vv
" • 4
<t "■
r0*O «
AQa o
11
v ■
V ,Y? « ^SiflPf
VV O
*
r
Vr cl->
V
& Sjti&kL^ V AA O
^VV °-
C-. O z
pS\ ^V\ 15
//■ v*™*\^ V*.
°V ° <co h c* <&'*< • • * >°,, «■. a/%
1 Pv” %z%
, •? '-' .A ^ V., , G /*" jjfcJf??/1 , * G 2 .A <,
; «b^ »^&'. -Vo4 • ®§K ■'bv- V,
AO. « n *CV. a tiTZ’WMKS' »
— ** Oo K +?%w*g ^ on v? ^ ** Oo *v V‘
*- *\p\ * * ,,\ >0*°V *, « o/v^n >\P,
"'’/•'■"'V"” VSV”VV°“'/,.’-o<V ■■ V
> ^ AM/Vi **
vsja-^v* VV
s**-*. <*. .#
o JPMI r
AWg*. *.
\ W:g™,
*
> »
PP -mm?0*. °
-. &» ->; * cA o
* -v ^ ■>■ '-mmr ^ _
•» A <r> ^ ^ A? ,
vmsr>* \\
^ D N °° ^ ^ * 0 aI T
W£»S", ^
^ ., f Jfe * ..
^'^\>.%;P • 4\.
‘ ' -^Vo r llfofc’. ? * p
Arc
C3JJ"> o '. :W? .#\5
^ 'Pv o ■t s p ^v\ ■> omV.* ^-V'
)-, c^> .o O, “y„ . -^ •' >
LI It ,
•l!*.>^°*‘>.- o a ^/r/fc> « J 4 ^ b°o ^V
’4 ^ ^
. 'o/ f » ->• ."»«.* -x -«»» V ;■
o ,py* 9 v ° ‘>P' fl> y ° ° ^P’/k ,.
* o x V
V. *>«
° v^
* 45 /~p V*, <1- -
P*■>
PV V" ( - l'
Ay.
8n s°°p ^ * °* p
8 n ,. *%*^**
<)<i 4v^ ^ (S 5! ■» ^
V v ^ A W/k p
^ > *’^sfefc''.* ^ Ap- -V
_ -* IWilCTtf/i
tfl\\\JA//A oz ^\/-a\V
V'V °
o A-■
n Ar>. o w? to" vA A i
V- 'y V
ji
oo waBXU. x>- V
_. L/iv^viy
,
^ v-
* V V, o W|A Vkt J"
O ^ ^±*iiy*w
& X>, * '
tl fi %y ° * A A
co n g , pp# *$
❖ ^wrV^ V O .4 / A Vr. G .❖
LI 8^ V0 U^ A
^ A> <4 ^ WX . V Af ^ P
a- \n< 7OV
I
s
p
lyr ,-j1
(un.
J\ VfVV»\ \
Dresden: Treasures from the Saxon State Library
lrCA’Ttr5 ^JExrcTORATUS SA
^fARCHio^TATUS hSX
g" ZXK31SU V JA*
et
L *r, •«**
iARDGRAVIATUS THUR
Hucftatr
Wz ° 0J^r inCtrtis *t frnitiima IRegioniVus
• QA> rarrOfOcU ,/V'«/ +++7&PZ-*
T*ftl«ui'
Wik *SttckbuS Jj AolUtett
oAeh*
■XolsU. <
|'WrTTlKTBX»<Jf
WSahm. o vhUiihaufcn-
L. °GoJIul
Uihlein,
lohhiuucn
Sgfc
\iemuX' o
i 'JJrontx
'L^okti
tS'dinucUlcrcft
«1 > e rt^ Slrtciitlna-n Jachfl Sdiliebei
J ifiF0(tervPZ* • j ijjjfed
dr H J/rww a JriflMp / 0lt gfc- «T GreiuknitfL
/k
^ 3§*o LMaujvn.
fr%l ( Diumtfk,
VJhfldZ 6 Wcr\btlin
^ ^ jy’tfrnsKi
w
m/ifec
—'-- ojion/ioirihc _Jfc.i
*Sih»r0ifthton r
*Sch4pdti mt, .
♦
r*47/<«' XoW. „ .-/j
J^rZfo ( Jm-~fZ,
« V Sttr-A-^
. Rotenham. V 5L»j$
Jiattcune j
rfrnf'% ffvUfHt*’ JaAejxb Uf~4”j Trclon
°mcret;
GuhmLur
J&ttclioidib? 3«L.5f
t®t 1
oJt&Jrjfbfrt
«nftgit*
,
Tiui tJ
- _y f*r mwr
OdA 0 3fchtrrt
ftirhfrek
o ^
i*w JVommot
o
ScJoradsfy
, °/y
OjcJuili/fe
6W/.Z
°
\\
\i
^
Jrxznwen/hu
W
mCalfnberg/^j^cheUn
IpTe iuiIlwoI^j
1j?*iAafh
xfrr] IS 3T/
! o (rruiL , y&o&’it* -~w .^ZAitmntx f n-o(
I o Seufelittt Sw
o jfyjlmJTurq ■ 'r^£tL ■ o f V ‘,
XFUfi-* (Jfriiig Crcutt ({>
) 0V
////rf' S& jJ^rXeiTuecW^ aftl/imuhc-lt.^
^ 'fifrtuljrf
°4SM»Vlt J
^ Crossen jijruJurdftf ^ mCaUall'f ,
(« ®
"Schonsov 0
°LUrn SL^^”f
£y£mmertJi*
tJWuvnrirtenbcry
Gattvn
]^hpttz,
,^
0 ojyaJtfuxm. o
obbeLn.
cThiuten
\JtoubdfU
|ffi»nicJtfll.
TrxJbi
nj>t
$aclil’en.b
CTrfefe
Zocndorf? ° Xotunyrtroht
0 Zubcn\ 2WT<?KAS
VT JJoyorsMjf
aCraitjr
N /*/o , 's^\» jSckidd
Jteth °<*>
p,>^jl 6 A y *vpft13;
Jbrv(fSuit\L'
J?btrutz
gfc Tfietfi'cnbtuy
J&xishach
rm^Vi
®j3nm. awr OiVck'
^ SiJtlrrn'
*Zi*rtJ<Tuw
^oLelbp
5)res5ei)
Treasures from the
Saxon State Library
Edited by
Margrit B. Krewson
DD8o|
D
Co p'-| X
The Publishing Office would like to acknowledge the editorial assistance of Allison Blakely,
Ingrid M. Maar, Lys Ann Shore, and Diane C. Stuart in the development of this catalog.
p. cm.
Catalog and essays to accompany the exhibit:
Dresden: treasures from the Saxon State Library.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 43).
Contents:
The history of the Saxon State Library/Wolfgang Friihauf—
Political ambition versus cultural commitment/Reinhardt Eigenwill—
The Protestant reformation in Saxony/Christian Ziihlke—
The literature of romanticism in Dresden/Jans-Jurgen Sarfert—
Music in Saxony/Ortrun Landmann—
Illustrations.
1. Saxony (Germany)—Civilization—Exhibitions.
2. Saxony (Germany)—Civilization—Bibliography—Exhibitions.
3. Sachsische Landesbibliothek (Dresden, Germany)—Exhibitions.
4. Rare books—Germany—Dresden—Bibliography—Exhibitions.
5. Manuscripts—Germany—Dresden—Exhibitions.
6. Music—Germany—Dresden—Bibliography—Exhibitions.
7. Saxony (Germany)—Civilization—Sources—Exhibitions.
8. Dresden (Germany)—Civilization—Sources—Exhibitions.
I. Krewson, Margrit B. (Margrit Beran)
II. Sachsische Landesbibliothek (Dresden, Germany)
III. Library of Congress.
DD801.S347D74 1996
oi6.943i’8—dc20
96-2673
CIP
6.
Foreword
James H. Billington
7-
Editors Preface
Margrit B. Krewson
9-
Wolfgang Fruhauf
Contents
17-
Reinhardt Eigenwill
2-5-
Christian Zuhlke
33-
Hans-Jurgen Sarfert
39-
Music in Saxony
Ortrun Landmann
43-
Bibliography
Eberhard Stimmel
48.
Illustrations
89.
The Library of Congress has recently sponsored magnificent art treasures of Saxony. The present exhibition
exhibitions highlighting treasures from two of the worlds focuses for the first time on Saxony’s equally rich and
major libraries: the Vatican Library in Rome and the valuable literary heritage. Displayed here are examples
Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris. Now, the from the full range of treasures in rhe Saxon State
Library is privileged to display treasures from the Saxon Library—manuscripts, incunabula, books, music manu¬
State Library (Sachsische Landesbibliothek) in scripts, photographs, maps, and paintings—forming
Dresden, Germany. an anthology from the High Middle Ages through the
Located on the Elbe River in central Europe, Dresden nineteenth century.
was founded in the thirteenth century. It was the seat of The exhibition and this accompanying catalog are the
the Saxon rulers beginning in the fifteenth century and result of four years of collaboration and planning between
is currently the capital of the German Free State of Saxony. the Saxon State Library and the Library of Congress. I
Because of its pivotal role in the late Renaissance and would especially like to acknowledge the efforts of Margrit
the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Dresden is known B. Krewson, the Library’s German/Dutch area specialist,
as the German Florence or the Florence of the North. for her organizational skills as well as her initiative in
During the first half of the eighteenth century, under raising the necessary funds to make the exhibition and
the rulers August I (Augustus the Strong) and his son catalog possible.
August II, Saxony reached the pinnacle of its cultural influ¬ The Library of Congress displays these treasures
ence, manifested in the spectacular baroque architecture from the Saxon State Library as part of its mission
of the capital city. Dresden became a major European cul¬ to make the resources of the world’s more readily known
tural center, where monarchs fostered the arts and made to the American public. We are indeed privileged with
significant additions to the city’s art, museum, and library the loan of these treasures from Dresden, most of which
collections, which attracted many European travelers. have never been exhibited outside the Saxon State
One of Dresden’s outstanding cultural institutions Library. We are pleased to be able thus to call attention
is the Saxon State Library, which is now celebrating its four to the rich European heritage preserved in Dresden.
hundred fortieth anniversary. The Library of Congress
is pleased to collaborate with the Saxon State Library James H. Billington
to display a selection of its treasures. These collections were The Librarian of Congress
unavailable and largely unknown to two generations
of Americans, since Dresden fell within the former Soviet
bloc after 1945. The idea for this exhibition originated
in 1992, shortly after the collapse of communism, when
I had the opportunity to visit the Saxon State Library.
In 1978 the National Gallery of Art mounted an
exhibition, “The Splendor of Dresden,” emphasizing the
Editor’s Preface
This catalog, which accompanies the exhibit “Dresden: This catalog also includes forty illustrations chosen
Treasures from the Saxon State Library,” is presented to the from the 189 items on display. Matthew Caulfield provided
American public as an introduction to the rich literary, invaluable assistance with subject review for the captions,
musical, and religious history of Dresden collections and which were translated with the assistance of Ronald
libraries. A series of essays written by the professional staff Bachman, Christina Connelly, Christian Hennig and staff,
of the Saxon State Library (Sachsische Landesbibliothek) Inge Wolfe, and David Kraus, and edited with the able
includes a history of the Saxon State Library from its assistance of Ursula Lange. I thank them for lending
beginnings as a court library to its current role as the state their expertise to this project.
library of Saxony and one of the preeminent libraries in A bibliography of titles in English and German will
Germany (Wolfgang Frtihauf); an overview of the history guide those who wish to explore further the themes of
of Saxony, with particular emphasis on the ruling Wettin the catalog and exhibit. The bibliography was compiled
family and its political and cultural ambitions (Reinhardt by Eberhard Stimmel of the Saxon State Library.
Eigenwill); an explanation of the origin and role of the The exhibition and catalog were funded through
Protestant Reformation in Saxony (Christian Ziihlke); the generous support of the Dresden Flilton Hotel,
a discussion of the role of Dresden in the development the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences
of literature during the Romantic period at the beginning and Humanities in Germany, Kulturstiftung Dresden
of the nineteenth century (Hans-Jiirgen Sarfert); and der Dresdner Bank (Dresden Cultural Foundation
an account of the rich musical heritage of Saxony, much of the Dresdner Bank), Gesellschaft der Freunde und
of which is preserved in the Saxon State Library (Ortrun Forderer der Sachsischen Landesbibliothek (Friends
This exhibit could not have been realized without the Government, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
ceremony and included objets d’art and curiosities, which interests that large numbers of pamphlets from the period
were very popular in private libraries of the era. of the Thirty Years’ War and many funeral orations have
An extremely rare item was added to the library in been preserved as historical sources.
1734. Johann Christian Gotze, a court chaplain who had Four years later, the even more comprehensive 62,000-
been appointed chief inspector of the Court Library, volume library of the late Saxon prime minister, Count
acquired an illustrated manuscript on a trip to Vienna: one Heinrich von Briihl (1700-63), was acquired for 50,000
of only three extant Maya manuscripts. Today the Codex talers (10,000 more than was paid for Bunau’s). The costly
Dresdensis, as it is called, is the only one of the three purchase underscores the Court Library’s stature as a
being publicly exhibited. cultural institution, because at that time the treasury was
Large acquisitions, such as the Besser collection, were very short of funds. If one considers that the priceless and
followed by extensive cataloging. Friedrich August II, like coveted painting collection confiscated from the same
his father a passionate collector, wanted rapid recataloging estate had been auctioned off to the Russian tsarina, the
of the entire collection after he acquired the Besser purchase of Bruhl’s library becomes even more significant.
library—a demand that temporarily stopped all lending. Even during a time of poverty, the economic advantages
Card catalogs and manuscript and map inventories were expected from promoting scholarship were judged
all updated. In addition, all illustrations and maps of cities sufficient to justify the high cost of this book collection.
and fortresses available in print were cataloged. These The collections of the two counts, Biinau and Briihl,
improvements increased the use of the library, which was complemented each other nicely. While the scholarly
kept open several hours a day. In 1753 the library began Biinau had limited his acquisitions to expensive folios,
keeping a patrons’ ledger, although only distinguished incunabula, manuscripts, or other rare items in support
names were entered into it. of his research, Briihl focused his passion for collecting
The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) once again interrupted on the arts, attempting to acquire everything that
the growth of the Court Library. After the court and was aesthetically pleasing, costly, and rare. His collection
government had taken refuge in Warsaw and elsewhere, of old foreign-language novels and plays was said
the Prussians in 1760 took Dresden by bombardment, to be the most comprehensive in Europe.
destroying large sections of the city. The librarian saved Johann Michael Francke (1717-75), Biinau’s librarian
the precious book collections by storing them in the and a colleague of Winckelmann, accompanied the collec¬
vaults of the fortress. tion and became a staff member of the Court Library,
By 1765 there was still no sign of economic recovery. where he continued his pioneering work in cataloging.
Nevertheless, the Court Library in that year purchased He advocated keeping the Biinau library intact and
the collection of Count Heinrich von Biinau (1697-1762), separate from the Court Library. However, his advice went
which comprised 42,000 volumes and was one of the most unheeded, and he was forced to integrate Bunau’s into
important scholarly libraries in Germany. Bunau’s passion the collections of the Court Library.
for book collecting had been kindled by working on a By this time the collections had grown enormously
history of the German empire. The last volumes were never in size, and emphasis was now placed on balancing con¬
completed because of the war and Bunau’s premature tent, especially in the area of early editions. In 1773
death. His library was noteworthy for its systematic classifi¬ the Court Library acquired the 1460 Gutenberg edition
cation and cataloging system, to which Johann Joachim of the Catholicon. Additional efforts resulted in transfers
Winckelmann, founder of classical archaeology, had of rare items from Saxon private schools that had received
contributed. The logic of that system is said to have moti¬ fragmented collections from monastic libraries. Among
vated Winckelmann to develop his famous systematization, these books were many fragile early editions, such as
or periodization, of antiquities, which was the hallmark Fust and Schoffer’s Mainz Psalterium (1457), twenty-six
Schneeberg. Thus, rhe Court Library gradually became Adolf Ebert (1791-1834) and Ernst Forstemann (1865-87)
the state depository. In 1822 the chief librarian, Friedrich gained national recognition by encouraging bibliography
Adolf Ebert (1791-1834), wrote: “Since the time of Friedrich and librarianship. As early as 1816 the Royal Public Library
August I the Court Library has been a true state library had become a pioneer of modern library administration,
for Saxony and, as such, has preserved many things for the when it established one of the first music departments in
Fatherland, about which Saxony would boast abroad.” a German library, and by 1835 it installed cases for display¬
It soon became evident that the number of acquisi¬ ing library treasures to the public. A century later the
tions would soon cause the Court Library to outgrow the space devoted to the display of library treasures had grown
space within the Zwinger. The elaborate Japanese Palace, into a book museum of several rooms.
after extensive renovation, became its new home in 1786. By the middle of the nineteenth century, as a result
The newly appointed chief librarian, Johann Christoph of the sharp increase in book production, the library was
Adelung (1786-1806), renamed the institution the Electoral no longer able to collect universally, a practice that it had
Public Library (Kurfiirstliche Offentliche Bibliothek), always promoted and defended. Librarian Petzholdt wrote
and when Saxony became a kingdom in 1806, it became in 1843 in the Wegweiser fur Dresdner Bibliotheken—
the Royal Public Library. Adelung, a scholar and also an probably rhe first library guide in Germany—that one
able administrator, further enhanced the collections by of the reasons for the gaps in the Royal Public Library was
acquiring important Old German manuscripts, such as an insufficient funds, but that the ultimate cause was the
illuminated copy of the Sachsenspiegel (a medieval legal existence of specialized libraries, such as the Dresden Poly¬
code written by Eike von Repgow), and other unique mate¬ technic Library. The Royal Library limited its acquisitions
rials, such as a collection of 3,500 university dissertations. of scientific and technical literature—in spite of the high
Such a collection of literary treasures appealed to intel¬ demand for such works—and stopped acquiring medical
lectuals such as Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, literature altogether, since the Dresden Medical Academy
Johann Gottfried von Herder, and Heinrich von Kleist, all Library had taken over responsibility for collecting
of whom made use of the library. Similarly, many European literature in this area.
travelers visited the collections in the Japanese Palace, With each library assuming responsibility for its
as did several rulers, such as Kaiser Leopold II of Austria, subject specialty, Forstemann, during his tenure at
King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, and Napoleon. the Royal Public Library, targeted the areas of history and
The significant reduction of the Saxon territory its ancillary disciplines, geography, political science, belles
decreed by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 weakened the lettres, and art and music. In history, geography, and local
kingdom both politically and economically, with serious history, the systematic acquisition of materials relating
consequences for the budget and development of the Royal to Saxony, or Saxonica, brought large numbers of Saxon
Public Library. By 1834 it was evident that the Royal Public chronicles, family records, and unpublished works
Library with its 300,000 volumes had been surpassed into the library. Of special significance was the acquisition
in size by the Bavarian Court Library, and in contemporary of a collection of 317 original prints from the period of
literature its collection was inferior to that of the the Reformation. In 1880 the Royal Public Library became
The Library Takes a New Direction (1887-1907) focused on the printed music collection.
Although the Dresden library no longer surpassed other he perused the holdings of numerous Saxon churches
libraries in expanding its collections, it remained a leader and schools to obtain their printed music collections
field of German librarianship. with the water damage to preserve these treasures from
further disintegration.
After the war, the undamaged collections stored in
The Nazi Period and Its Aftermath the basement of the Japanese Palace, together with parts
of the old collection that had been evacuated and then
National Socialist domination and World War II put an brought back, were housed in new provisional quarters
end to the progress the Saxon State Library had made on the north side of Dresden, where they have remained
under Bollert’s direction. Bollert himself was not prepared to this day.
to conform to the requirements of the Nazi regime The Saxon State Library suffered yet another loss
and was sent into early retirement. The few Jewish staff when Soviet occupation troops confiscated 220,000 printed
attained such a position of power. But three years after Saxony in July 1539.
union, Elector Ernst (d. i486) initiated the unfortunate Duke Moritz (d. 1553), son and successor of Heinrich,
partition of the Wettin lands. Elector Ernst received, was perhaps the most politically astute member of the
in addition to his electoral area of Wittenberg, the greater House of Wettin. He very soon learned to understand and
part of the Thtiringian possessions of the House of Wettin anticipate the diplomatic chess moves of Emperor Charles V,
and parts of the margravate of Meissen. Albrecht received and he decisively led Albertine Saxony to the forefront
the larger part of the margravate of Meissen and a few of the Protestant states. At the same time, he made it
parts of the Thtiringian possessions of the Wettins. This the most powerful territory of the empire, except for the
decision ran contrary to the growing tendency to centralize areas ruled by the Habsburgs. In the city of Schmalkalden
economic and political power. Although the land partition in 1531, several important German princes and cities had
was not intended to be permanent, nonetheless the formed an alliance to defend Protestant interests against
Ernestine and Albertine lines went their separate ways from Emperor Charles V. As a result of the Schmalkaldic War
that time on. The chance for future Wettin dominance of 1547, Duke Moritz was able to wrest more territory from
in the eastern part of Germany had passed. Duke Albrecht his Ernestine relations, along with the actual duchy of
not completely compensate for the 1485 territorial the commitment of these rulers to the enhancement of
partition. With the 1552 Treaty of Passau he secured the the political, social, and cultural life of their subjects.
of Protestantism.
Art and Politics in the Sixteenth Century Under Elector Christian I (d. 1591) and his chancellor
Elector Moritz, although less interested in the arts and an active political role in the empire and beyond. Although
20. sciences than his predecessors had been, made significant Krell sought to break the power of the nobility in Saxony
cultural contributions to enhance his political position. and to introduce Calvinism, the early death of Christian I
These included additions to the Dresden Castle, construc¬ ended these plans. In foreign politics, Saxony found itself
tion of the Moritzburg hunting castle near Dresden, and again within the Austrian Habsburg sphere. From the
the expansion of Leipzig University. He also founded three victory of the nobility and Lutheran orthodoxy arose the
Fiirstenschulen (princely schools) in 1543 in Meissen, typical patriarchal and conservative features of the
Grimma, and Pforta, and in 1548 he established the Court administration of Saxony.
Orchestra, the forerunner of the Dresden State Orchestra. During the devastating Thirty Years’ War, the
The early death at age thirty-two of this outstanding Albertine line of the House of Wettin overestimated its
Renaissance ruler has led historians to speculate whether, influence on the course of political events, changing
had he lived, both Saxon and German history might allegiance from the emperor to the Swedes and back again.
have taken a different course. Despite suffering heavy war losses, Saxony was able to
Moritz was succeeded by his brother August (d. 1586), recover rapidly because of its economic resources. The
who did not pursue a bold foreign policy. Intending to long-term political prospects of Saxony had declined under
maintain a balance to the emperor, he effectively Johann Georg I (d. 1656), even though, as a result of this
renounced an active leadership role among the Protestant war, he had won both parts of the Lausitz region in 1635.
states and instead focused his efforts on the internal devel¬ With the transfer of the territory of the secularized former
opment of electoral Saxony. Among his accomplishments archbishopric from Magdeburg to Brandenburg, the politi¬
were stimulation of the economy, improved organization cal importance of the dynasty of the Albertine Wettins
of the administrative and judicial systems, better church was further reduced. In his will of 1652 Johann Georg I
organization, and strong support for the arts and sciences. further weakened Saxony’s position by creating three sepa¬
Saxony enjoyed unprecedented prosperity over other rate Albertine lines out of his electoral Saxon dynasty
German territories—an advantage that it was able to main¬ while upholding the supremacy of the electoral line. The
tain, at least in part, into the first half of the twentieth three lines of the dukes of Saxony-Merseburg, Saxony-
century. Among August’s many cultural contributions was Weissenfels, and Saxony-Zeitz died out in the first half
the creation of the Dresden Court Library (today the of the eighteenth century, and their possessions were
Saxon State Library), based on his private library. In 1560 reintegrated into electoral Saxony.
Italian artists to his court. The Dresden armory and the The Baroque Period in Saxony
initiative. In the Freiberg princes’ mausoleum, he built an The baroque period began in Saxony with the reign
impressive tomb to honor his predecessor. Historical of Johann Georg II (d. 1680), who loved splendor and
1664 the architect Wolf Caspar von Klengel built the first art gallery’s Grimes Gewolbe (Green Vault) and had it
opera house in Dresden, and in 1676 the great garden near embellished with the works of the famous goldsmith
the princely residence was laid out. In 1678 Johann Georg Melchior Dinglinger. In 1754 he and his successor acquired
II, with the rulers of the three collateral Albertine lines, the Raphael Sistine Madonna for the Dresden Royal
held an “Assembly of Their Highnesses” in Dresden. Gallery. As well as a passionate collector of paintings,
It was a precursor of the great baroque court festivals of Friedrich August II was also, along with his wife Princess
the eighteenth century. A dynamic economy was largely Maria Josephine of Habsburg, very interested in music.
responsible for providing the funds needed for these This era, when the Court Orchestra was directed by
expensive cultural projects. conductor Johann Adolph Hasse, is well known to
plays captured the theater. Johann Georg III (d. 1691) was
the first German prince to have Moliere’s plays performed The Decline of Saxon Power
and court festivals in the princely residence and at other The cultural accomplishments of the Augustan period
locations in Saxony. would not have been possible without the economic
In the late 1600s the foreign policy of the Albertine strength of the state, clearly demonstrated by the growing
lines, in accordance with the traditional loyalty to the importance of the Leipzig trade fairs. Leipzig was the
empire, was also oriented toward the House of Habsburg. most important center for trade between central and
The Albertine Wettins supported the Habsburgs in the eastern Europe, in particular for the exchange of Saxon
struggle against the Turks and against the expansionist industrial products and eastern European raw materials,
policy of Louis XIV of France. However, Johann Georg II such as furs. Together with his strong aesthetic sense,
was also at times closely allied to France, receiving August the Strong combined political ambition and a
large subsidies for his support from the French remarkable vitality that permitted him to follow his ambi¬
government. tious plans in two directions over the course of his long
With the reign of Elector Friedrich August I (August reign. His domestic policy was aimed at crushing the
the Strong, d. 1733) began the so-called “Augustan period,” power of the nobility, while his foreign policy envisioned
which lasted until the Seven Years’ War (1756-63). Under the establishment of an east-central European empire that
his rule the Dresden court was known as one of the most could claim its rightful place among the great powers
splendid in Germany and in all of Europe. Many impor¬ of Europe. His ascent to the Polish throne in 1697, as
tant artists were drawn to Dresden. Architecture, music, King August II, was seen as a first step in this direction.
and the other arts and crafts all flourished under August However, because of his conversion to Catholicism,
the Strong and his successor Friedrich August II (d. 1763). Saxony lost its leading position among the Protestant
Many architectural masterpieces were constructed in states to Brandenburg-Prussia. August the Strong’s
Dresden and its environs: the Zwinger, Pillnitz Castle, the ambitions included gaining additional territories of
Frauenkirche, and the Catholic Court Church. Other the House of Habsburg (whose male line was expected
architectural gems, including many palaces of the nobility, to die out at the beginning of the eighteenth century)
were built by such prominent architects as Matthaus and ultimately acquiring the imperial crown for the
Johann Christoph Knoffel. The palaces and churches were For all his support of the arts, as collector, patron, and
decorated by sculptors such as Balthasar Permoser and even the contributor of ideas to different projects, August
Lorenzo Matielli. the Strong never lost sight of his political goals. More than
of his standing as a ruler. The extravagant court festivals he was on the losing side and was forced to surrender more
sponsored also served his political ambitions. For example, than half its territory to Prussia.
the famous court festival near the town of Zeithain in 1730 Although its political influence continued to decline,
combined baroque pomp and pageantry with the display the Saxon royal house liked to believe that its cultural
of military and political might. patronage somewhat balanced these losses. However, the
The reign of this unusual member of the House of first constitution and the ensuing civil reforms of 1831-32
Wettin presents a contradictory picture. In foreign policy, separated the state and court budgets, further limiting the
he overestimated his power and what could be attained ruler’s activities. The museums and other cultural institu¬
by the Albertine branch, especially in competition with the tions, while still legally in the possession of the royal house,
22. aspiring state of Brandenburg-Prussia. Although gifted in were now subject to state control and were administered
many ways, he lacked the tenacity to concentrate on long- according to the constitution.
range goals. Yet even though August the Strong was largely The reign of King Friedrich August II (d. 1854)
unable to realize his ambitious political goals, his strong coincided with the era preceding the bourgeois-democratic
influence on the cultural history of Saxony remains revolution that culminated in the 1849 uprising at Dresden.
For his successor, Friedrich August II, an opera the old authoritarian monarchical system. Still, over this
performance was always more important than the burden¬ period a modern bourgeois society gradually
noted scornfully in his memoirs. Friedrich August II was In the era of the industrial revolution, which began
dominated by his powerful minister Count Heinrich von in Germany in Saxony and the Rhineland, the monarchy
Briihl, and during the War of the Austrian Succession and nobility had less opportunity for their own develop¬
(1740-58) he lost the political prestige of Saxony that had ment. King Friedrich August II established the collection
been won by his father. of copper engravings in Dresden and commissioned build¬
During the Seven Years’ War the situation worsened ings by Gottfried Semper. King Johann of Saxony
as Saxony became a pawn of the powers involved. (d. 1873), a renowned scholar, produced among other
It quickly recovered from the economic aftermath of the things a German translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy that
war, however, as economic and political reforms were is still used today. This latter endeavor reflects the private,
enacted. With the gradual establishment of bourgeois almost intimate quality of Wettin cultural activity
society, the role of the monarch was weakened even in the 1860s.
further. Upon the death of August II in 1763 the Polish- Saxony, initially aligned with the Austrian monarchy
Saxon personal union was dissolved, and gradually during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, became a member
Saxony exerted less and less influence on the course of the Prussian-led North German Confederation. At the
of German history. Like the other smaller German states, end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 it became a state
it was increasingly subject to the hegemony of Prussia within the German Empire founded by Bismarck. The
During the Napoleonic wars the “Holy Roman brought an end to the monarchy in Saxony. King Friedrich
Empire of the German Nation” collapsed. In the battles of August III (d. 1932) abdicated on 13 November 1918,
October 1806 near Jena and Auerstadt, the Saxon elector’s exclaiming, “Do your own dirty work!” (Macht Euren
troops initially fought with the Prussians, who were defeat¬ Dreck alleene).
ed. Subsequently, the Albertine branch, assuming royal As an independent state and one of the most econom¬
status, switched allegiance and became loyal supporters ically well-developed areas of Germany, Saxony played an
especially in the political and social struggles of that time. the events of 1989 and the unification of Germany in 1990
It survived the devastation of World War II and became made Saxony a free state once again.
Albrecht the Brave 1464-85 Coregent His descendants formed the Albertine line.
1547-53 Elector
vo
00
Elector
\ss
m
August
1
1806-27 King
Anton
-'^'T
\y
Detail, Illustration 8
Christian Zuhlke
North America.
criticism of spiritual decay in the Roman Catholic Church righteousness but rather grants it in faith: He is a merciful
and the papacy was rooted in the High Middle Ages. God, not a punishing God. Salvation (Luther’s question:
On 31 October 1517 Luther, an Augustinian monk and “How do I obtain God’s grace?”) is attainable only through
professor of biblical studies at the Saxon University of faith (sola fide). The person who believes, “be he a sinner
Wittenberg, sent to his church superiors letters written in or a righteous man,” is forgiven through grace and not
Latin in which he enclosed “95 Theses on the Power of because he has somehow “earned” salvation. In this view,
Indulgences.” He intended to challenge others to a theo¬ the buying and selling of indulgences made the forgiveness
logical debate, or scholarly disputation—a commonplace of sin “a holy commodity” to be obtained with money.
activity among scholars at that time. Luther also sent the Luther’s new theological statement was developed step
theses to his friends in Nuremberg. The legend that Luther by step between 1513 and 1518 as preparation for his lectures
personally nailed the theses to the door of Wittenberg on the Psalms and on Saint Paul’s letters to the Romans,
Castle Church is based on an account written in 1546 by Galatians, and Hebrews. It was the real message of the
Philipp Melanchthon (1497—1560), who was not even Reformation. When he sent out his theses, however, Luther
present in Wittenberg in 1517. did not foresee any reformation of the Church. He intend¬
The immediate motivation behind the “95 Theses” ed only to oppose the abusive practice of the sale of indul¬
was the appearance in Saxony of one of the most persistent gences by subordinate church offices.
sellers of indulgences, the Dominican friar Johann Tetzel In 1517 the “95 Theses” were printed in Latin in a
(c. 1465-1519), who had a large following, even in Saxony one-page format in Leipzig and Nuremberg, and a short
where the trade in indulgences was unlawful. Pope Julius II time later they were printed in Basel in book form.
(1503—13) had just issued an indulgence for the construc¬ German translations quickly followed. Duke Georg of
tion of St. Peter’s Church in Rome. The papal commission¬ Saxony (Georg the Bearded, d. 1539) allowed them to be
er of indulgences in Germany was one of Luther’s superi¬ circulated to warn ofTetzel’s deception and to stop the
ors, Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz (1490-1545), who was illegal trade in indulgences.
deeply in debt as a result of the 29,000 gulden he had sent A literary war of unprecedented dimensions followed.
to Rome to obtain various positions. The Fugger banking Luther’s simple, colloquial writing style appealed to the
house in Augsburg had advanced him the money in the people. The printing and book trade gave Luther access
belief that his position as commissioner of indulgences to the reading public and an unexpectedly wide audience
would enable him to settle his debts. (The commissioner and influence. In the next two years 38 manuscripts by
was allowed to keep half the amount acquired from the Luther were printed in 113 editions in Leipzig alone—40
sale of indulgences.) Tetzel, who was always accompanied percent of all his writings printed before 1519—an indica¬
by an official of the Fuggers, sought to increase his tion of the city’s importance in the publishing trade.
proceeds with sayings like this: “As soon as the money falls After 1520 Wittenberg became the preferred place of publi¬
into the box, souls will jump from the fires of Hell into cation for reformist writings. The pope tried to silence
Heaven.” Claims such as this were too much for Luther Luther through his superiors, but their attempts failed,
Luther’s view of indulgences grew out of his so-called sovereign, Elector Friedrich the Wise (d. 1525), managed to
“tower experience”: the basic theological concepts of God’s arrange for Luther to answer the charges before the papal
justice he had acquired while working, in his study in the legate Cardinal Cajetan (Thomas de Vio from Gaeta,
Wittenberg monastery tower, on an exegesis of the biblical 1469-1534) at the next imperial Diet in Augsburg, rather
passage Romans 1:17. Luther believed that all efforts to than in Rome. The hearing in October 1518 produced no
earn God’s grace through good works (indulgences, fasting, result, nor did a conversation in January 1519 with
pilgrimages, entry into a monastery, the financing of the papal diplomat Karl von Miltitz (1490-1529) from
as opponents, and divided the two Saxon states along While Luther was writing his major theses, further
denominational lines. Duke Georg was Luther’s nemesis, measures were planned against him in Rome. With Eck’s
but out of a desire to shock his theologians “out of their cooperation, a papal bull, warning of excommunication,
peace and idleness,” he ordered the Theological Faculty in was issued in June 1520, but Eck encountered difficulties in
Leipzig to open its premises to the debate. The event took distributing the document in Germany. Nor was Friedrich
place at the Pleissenburg, because the university auditori¬ the Wise prepared to permit distribution of the publica¬
um could not accommodate everyone who wished to tion. By December 1520 Luther burned the papal bull
attend. During the first week Andreas Bodenstein, called before the Elster Gate in Wittenberg. Rome responded to
Karlstadt (1486-1541), and Johann Eck (1486-1543) argued this challenge by excommunicating Luther in January 1521.
on the topic of free will. In the second week, Luther and According to law, excommunication from the Catholic
Eck debated the question of the authority of the pope and Church was to be followed by a similar imperial ban.
the Church councils. Pressed by Eck, Luther rejected the Elector Friedrich won agreement from the newly elected
concept of the pope’s primacy and his indispensability emperor Charles V that Luther should not be condemned
for granting salvation; this was not God’s but man’s will. without a hearing. In April 1521 Luther had to appear in
Moreover, he held that the pope and the councils could err, Worms before the Diet, consisting of the emperor, the
and that the Council of Constance had condemned state¬ electors, and representatives of other states. In the Edict
ments by Jan Hus that were Christian and based on the of Worms (May 1521) the Diet declared an imperial ban
Gospels. With this, Eck had what he needed: Luther was on Luther and his followers, ordered their writings to be
shown to be a “Saxon Hus” and a heretic. Duke Georg was burned, and placed all books appearing in Germany under
painfully aware that he himself was the grandson of the church censorship. To protect him, Friedrich the Wise
“Hussite heretic king” Georg von Podiebrad (1420—71). hid Luther in Wartburg Castle near Eisenach.
Whether intentionally or by accident, the argument It is still unclear why Friedrich the Wise, who did
over indulgences developed into a dispute over the founda¬ not endorse the Reformation and who saw Luther only at
tions of the Roman Catholic Church. This in turn won the Diet of Worms, protected him, thus encouraging the
Luther additional followers, above all from the circle spread of the Reformation. It may be that Friedrich was
of humanists, including his most important ally, Philipp motivated by a strong sense of justice. Perhaps the prestige
Melanchthon. Other south German supporters of Luther of Wittenberg University, which he had founded in 1502,
included Ulrich von Hutten (1488-1523) and Willibald also played a role. When Luther taught there, enrollment
Pirckheimer (1470-1530), as well as Pirckheimer’s friend, increased (students even came from neighboring coun¬
the painter Albrecht Diirer (1471-1528). They supported tries), while enrollment at its rival university in Leipzig
Luther in letters and pamphlets. The Saxon State Library declined. The pope tolerated Friedrich’s attitude in view
in Dresden has a collection of these Reformation of the upcoming election of a new emperor.
Luther was an extremely prolific writer. In his words, into German, based on the Greek edition that Erasmus
“a rapid hand and perfect memory” were his assets. In 1520, of Rotterdam (1466/69-1536) had published and translated
in addition to other texts, he published the three principal into Latin. Luther completed the work in eleven weeks,
Reformation theses: The Address to the Christian Nobility of and it appeared with a preface in September 1522
the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, (the September Testament) in Wittenberg without naming
another edition was issued in December (the December Reformation, they were also dreamers.
Testament). Translation of the Old Testament followed in Luther was summoned and returned to Wittenberg
installments. By the time the first complete German-lan¬ on 6 March 1522. With his famous sermon on Invocavit
guage Bible was published in 1534, the New Testament had Sunday, he tried to stop the iconoclastic excesses. He
reached a record printing: eighty-seven High German preached cautious reforms following sufficient spiritual
editions, nineteen Low German editions, three translations preparation and protection of the weak. Everything
in Dutch, one in Danish, and one in Swedish. Luther’s associated with the idea of sacrifice was stricken from the
translation of the Bible set unprecedented standards for mass, the confession, and also the private masses. In 1523
accuracy, greatly influencing the development of the new Luther’s Baptismal Booklet, which made it possible for
High German language. It also set standards for translating the sacrament of baptism to be conducted in the German
the Bible into different national languages, especially in language, appeared. This was followed in 1526 by his
states that endorsed the Reformation. German Mass and Order of Worship, and in 1529 by the
After Luther’s Wartburg period, the Reformation Booklet on the Marriage Ceremony.
developed its own momentum. In Wittenberg, which With the elimination of priests to perform the mass,
became the center of the movement, and in other cities, the new order set free all those funds that had been donat¬
his followers began to apply his teachings to church life. ed to subsidize worship services. The “Leisnig Collection
Following the impressive Leipzig debate, individual Saxon Box Ruling” of 1523 (Leisnig is located between Leipzig and
priests had begun to preach evangelisch (according to Dresden) was an example for other evangelical church
the Gospels) in Leipzig, Dobeln, Grimma, the Lausitz area, organizations. This income for the parish and the church
Zittau, Gorlitz, and Bautzen. Everywhere monks and nuns would go into a common collection box, which supported
began to leave the monasteries, and priests took marriage the pastor, sexton, schoolmaster, the poor, and orphans.
vows long before Luther himself laid aside his monk’s robe Luther’s Ruling on the Common Collection Box pointed
(16 October 1524) and married (13 June 1525). In January out that the collection boxes should not be used to support
1522 the German Augustinian congregation was dissolved beggar monks or pilgrims, as was sanctioned by church
in Wittenberg. In 1524 Duke Georg had to close the rules. His rules laid the foundation for the evangelical
Celestine monastery on the Konigstein when only the charitable organizations of today.
proctor remained. The situation was similar for the monas¬ The Reformation was not a united movement.
teries of other church orders. Many monks became pastors Through Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) and John Calvin
and devoted themselves to proclaiming the Reformation. (1509-64), it soon developed other centers and diversified.
In many cities councilmen urged the appointment At the beginning of the Reformation, the “Zwickau
of a Reform pastor, while others asked Luther to name Prophets” acquired a certain significance for Saxony, as
a suitable candidate. did the German Peasants’ War (1524—25). Although Luther’s
In Wittenberg Karlstadt, Justus Jonas (1493-1555), and opponents liked to portray the situation differently, the
Gabriel Zwilling (d. 1558) actively opposed indulgences peasant revolts were part of the social struggles of the late
and masses for the dead, and Karlstadt preached in secular Middle Ages, which the Reformation accelerated but did
dress on Christmas Day 1521 and administered the Lord’s not cause.
supper with bread and wine. These were revolutionary In regard to Karlstadt, it is unclear whether he was
actions. In December, in the midst of this iconoclasm, the already a fanatic and iconoclast in his Wittenberg period
“Zwickau Prophets” arrived, with whom Thomas Miintzer or whether he became more consistent once reforms were
(i489?-i525) was closely associated. Given their name by introduced. Valentin Weigel (1533-88) belonged to the next
Luther, the “Zwickau Prophets” included the clothmakers generation of reformers. While conscientiously carrying
Nikolaus Stovel and Thomas Drechsel, and former out his pastoral duties in the small Saxon town of
or entrusted to a few friends. His writings, along with the turn, from 1526 to 1530 electoral Saxony’s church and
ideas of the German mystic and natural philosopher school inspection, based on Melanchthon’s 1528 Instruction
Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, for Inspectors, served as an example for other evangelical ter¬
1493/94-1541), stand in a direct line from the radical wing ritories. The inspectors were to evaluate the life and teach¬
of the Reformation to Jakob Bohme (1575-1624). Weigel’s ings of the pastor and see that the nobility and the cities
manuscripts, published after his death, created a great did not enrich themselves on church property. The inspec¬
sensation in the seventeenth century. tions showed a shocking ignorance of religious matters
After 1524 Germany began to divide into two denomi¬ among the pastors and members of the congregations. In
national camps, and within Saxony there was a strict sepa¬ 1529 Luther felt compelled to draw up the Large Catechism
ration for the next fifteen years. Duke Georg continued to for pastors and the Small Catechism for the father of each
persecute every reformist movement or action in Albertine household, both to be learned by heart. In the capital city
Saxony and ordered the expulsion of those of evangelical of each district, pastors were installed as superintendents
persuasion in a mandate of 1532, implemented especially in to oversee religious matters. Consistories were formed (the
Leipzig. He encouraged his court chaplains, Hieronymus first in Wittenberg in 1539) to handle matters of ecclesiasti¬
Emser (1477-1527) and Johannes Cochlaeus (1479-1552), cal jurisdiction, such as matrimonial cases or complaints
to write against Luther and often did so himself to “root made against pastors. After 1539 the reorganization of the
out the cursed Lutheran sects.” Luther responded to all church hierarchy in Albertine Saxony proceeded simultane¬
his opponents. ously. For the use of the inspectors, Justus Jonas devised
At the end of his life Duke Georg became a tragic the “Heinrich Liturgy” (used in Duke Heinrich’s territory),
figure. He had to accept the fact that the Reformation had which became the official order of service.
made inroads within his state: after 1532 in the Freiberg Meanwhile, matters had come to a head in regard to
domain of his brother Heinrich the Pious (1473-1541) and the political situation of the empire. At the Diets of Speyer
after 1537 in the Rochlitz area ruled by his widowed daugh¬ in 1526 and 1529, the Catholic princes renewed their deci¬
ter-in-law Elisabeth (1502-57). Georg’s efforts to defend his sion to implement the Edict of Worms. The evangelical
state against the Reformation after his death failed. His minority responded in 1529 with a formal protest, from
two sons died before their father. Later, Georg tried in his which the name Protestants derives. The Diet of Augsburg
will to force his brother Heinrich, who was next in line, in 1530 was a milestone in the development of the evangeli¬
to the Catholic side, but negotiations with the Saxon cal creed. At the request of the elector, Melanchthon
estates over the will dragged on, and the issue was never worked out a position paper, The Augsburg Confession
resolved. In the spring of 1539 Heinrich the Pious assumed (Confessio Augustana), the first compilation of evangelical
power and, at the funeral of his brother, made clear which precepts. Thereupon, Eck, on orders of the emperor,
denominational faith he intended to introduce into produced a rebuttal (Confutatio), and the emperor regarded
Albertine Saxony. On 6 July 1539 the first evangelical the case as settled. Because he had been pronounced an
worship service was held in the Dresden Kreuzkirche. outlaw, Luther could not take part in the Augsburg
In electoral (Ernestine) Saxony, after the turbulent proceedings. He watched events from the Coburg Castle
early years, construction was begun on an evangelical state and ridiculed the “parliament of crows and jackdaws,”
church under Friedrich the Wise’s successors, his brother as he called it. Melanchthon’s Augsburg Confession seemed
Johann the Constant (d. 1532) and Johann’s son Johann too moderate for him, and he remarked, “I cannot tread
Friedrich the Magnanimous (d. 1554). The duchy of so quietly and gently.” In 1537 Luther strengthened the
Prussia, the first evangelical state—founded in 1525 by contents of the Augsburg Confession by issuing the
Albrecht of Brandenburg (1490-1568), grand master of Schmalkald Articles, which became a statement of faith
the Teutonic Order—served as a model. The ruler was of the Lutheran Church.
the emperor’s threat to wage war against the evangelical reached a critical point in Saxony with crypto-Calvinism
princes if they did not submit. To protect themselves and the fall of the chancellor Nikolaus Krell (155CP-1601).
against this danger, they formed the Schmalkaldic League This time, the Gnesio Lutherans, the “true Lutherans”—
as a war alliance in February 1531. This league and the addi¬ that is, Lutheran theologians such as Nikolaus von
tional threat of danger from the Turks forced the emperor Amsdorf (1483-1565), Matthias Flacius Illyricus (1520-75),
to agree to a truce. In the Nuremberg Truce of 1532 the and their followers—criticized the “Philippists” (Philipp
Protestants were tacitly tolerated until a future council Melanchthon and his followers) for being too ready to
could be called. The council met again in 1545 in Trent, compromise and rejected the Leipzig Articles as a “Leipzig
a town in the far south of the empire. It was a gathering Interim.” The attacks they made in their campaign were
of Catholics only, since the German Protestants refused to clearly directed against Duke Moritz.
attend. Luther did not live to see the ensuing setbacks for For personal reasons, but largely because of the repres¬
the Reformation. He died on 18 February 1546 in Eisleben. sive power and religious policy of the emperor, Duke
Because a solution could not be found through the Moritz changed sides, joined the north German evangelical
Council of Trent, the emperor chose to enforce his power princes (who were opposed to the emperor for the same
by waging war against the Protestant rebel princes (the reasons), and became their leader and the savior of
Schmalkaldic War, 1546-47). During the war Duke Moritz Protestantism. Strengthened by a treaty with the French
of Saxony (d. 1553) came under a cloud. Although he firmly King Henry II (1519-59), Moritz took the field with the
supported the development of the Reformation in evangelical princes in a surprise attack against the emperor,
Albertine Saxony, he was lured by the diplomacy of the who, however, escaped. On 2 August 1552 the evangelical
Habsburgs and the promise of gaining electoral status and princes formulated the Treaty of Passau, which led to
Ernestine Saxon territory. This promise, and the chance to the Religious Peace of Augsburg on 25 September 1555.
reverse the 1485 partition of Saxony, prompted him to fight The Peace of Augsburg recognized “those associated with
on the side of the emperor. Following the defeat of the the Augsburg Confession” and allowed them their
1547, the imperial Diet in 1548 issued the Augsburg The Reformation came to an end in Saxony with the
Interim, which permitted the Protestants only two conces¬ General Articles issued in 1557 by Elector August I (d. 1586,
sions: lay participation in the offering of communion and brother and successor of Moritz). Along with Heinrich’s
the marriage of priests. Otherwise, it required a return to Liturgy, the General Articles represent the first binding
the old doctrines and rites. Duke Moritz, because he had church legislation.
supported the Catholic emperor and won electoral status The Reformation, yielding to political pressure, relied
as a result, was scorned by the people as the “Judas of on the holders of territorial power who had made it possi¬
Meissen.” He came under further pressure and had to ble and assured its survival. As a result, there were as many
implement the Augsburg Interim as imperial law even in legally independent state churches as there were political
his own territory. Playing for time, he asked his consulting territories. The Religious Peace of Augsburg permitted only
theologians, particularly Melanchthon, to work out a less the sovereign rulers to select the religious denomination
strict version, the Leipzig Articles. The articles conceded of their territory, under the principle cuius regio, eius religio.
to the Catholic rites adiaphora (unimportant matters), This religious decision by the prince was, therefore, of vital
such as the structure of the worship service, but held firm importance to his subjects. The state rulers and also the
to the basic articles of evangelical doctrine, such as emperor, despite their apparent piety, used religion as a
justification by faith. means to achieve their political goals. Famous examples of
The Leipzig Articles were never implemented. Instead, this were Henry IV’s (1553-1610) conversion to Catholicism
there began one of many internal disputes among the at the end of the century to become King of France
elector August the Strong (Friedrich August I, d. 1733) as young people from various cities. They also provided
to acquire the Polish crown. By then, subjects no longer scholarships for poor students.
had to change their religious affiliation to that of The favorite art form of Protestantism was music.
the ruler. Thus, Saxony has remained largely Lutheran Luther himself favored a “singing church” and considered
The Protestant states received permanent benefits the sermon and communion. In his words, “To a good
in the improvement of their educational systems. Through sermon belongs a good song.” Where there was a shortage
their writings, Luther and Melanchthon appealed to of German songs, Luther would compose his own, and
the authorities to establish schools, including schools for today the evangelical church can thank him for some
Wittenberg was an example for all other Protestant univer¬ The Reformation divided Christendom into different
sities, as were his widely circulated instruction books. denominations, with the Catholic Church no longer repre¬
The Latin schools were reformed and were closely connect¬ senting all Christians. The privileges and responsibilities
ed with evangelical and humanist education. Melanchthon of the individual in Reformation theology extended to, and
became the Praeceptor Germaniae. In 1543 Saxony caused changes in, the secular world of commerce, educa¬
established the basis for its own educational tradition tion, law, and personal conduct. Society was not complete¬
with Elector Moritz’s order to form the princely schools ly secularized; belief in an active and omnipresent God
(Furstenschulen) of St. Afra in Meissen, St. Marien in remained central to late medieval and early Renaissance
Pforta (Schulpforta near Naumburg), and St. Augustin in life. However, now the nature of that God and humanity’s
Grimma. These university-preparatory schools were relation to him was open to multiple interpretations.
Romanticism.
Sistine Madonna, which the Dresden Royal Gallery had natural philosophy.
owned since 1754. This was an altar painting from the These five authors met in Dresden, the “Florence
church of the San Sisto Benedictine Monastery in of the North,” on 25-26 August 1798, to view and discuss
Piacenza, Italy, which had been donated to the monastery works in the classical collection of the Japanese Palace
by Pope Julius II. It was acquired for the Saxon capital (once the location of what is now the Saxon State Library),
city by Elector Friedrich August II for 20,000 gold ducats where torchlights illuminated the stone contours of the
(approximately us$200,000 today). This painting by building. In the art gallery of the Johanneum, a three-story
Raphael Santi (1483-1520) became a world-famous work Renaissance building constructed in 1586 at the Neuen
of art. The American poet Henry Miles (1824—71) wrote Markt, they studied the gestures and expressions portrayed
in his poem “San Sisto” that the Madonna had made in the fabled paintings of Claude Lorrain, Jacob van
The young men and women who came to Dresden (Antonio Allegri), and Giorgione. Kneeling before the
during the summer of 1798 to widen their horizons Sistine Madonna, the five authors poetically consecrated
were unusually gifted and sensitive individuals. They it as “the acme of human creativity.”
were the group of Romantics from Jena, who had In their discussions, they emphasized authentic
first gathered at the Pillnitz home of the Saxon privy experience and the early Romantic world of contempla¬
councilor Ludwig Emanuel Ernst and his wife Charlotte. tion. The discussions culminated in the poetic-philosophic
This group included five prominent authors: Friedrich dialogue Die Gemahlde (The Paintings), written by August
Schlegel, August Wilhelm and Caroline Schlegel, Wilhelm and Caroline Schlegel and published the follow¬
Friedrich von Hardenberg, and Friedrich Wilhelm ing year in the journal Athenaeum. Die Gemahlde was
Joseph Schelling. the basic document and Athenaeum the most important
Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829) was already familiar publication for formulating the theory of early romanti¬
with this center of artistic riches through his stay in cism. The theory grew out of that overwhelming
Dresden from January 1794 to the summer of 1796. He experience in the Dresden gallery.
the philosophy of history. Schlegel always emphasized Influence on American and British Literary History
Dresden had had on his literary life. The influence of the Schlegel brothers on American literary
His brother, August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767-1845), history has been documented by Ernst Behler, the
professor of literature and philology and inspired translator German-American specialist in German Romanticism at
of Shakespeare’s plays, had also decided to move to the University of Washington. As one of the leading schol¬
Dresden in August 1796, although he feared that he would ars of their manuscripts, he published The Writings of the
be subject to the city’s conservatism. He was accompanied Schlegel Brothers in 1983. August Wilhelm’s literary history
by his wife, Caroline (1763-1809), one of the most interest¬ was translated into English in 1815. The first American
ing women of the Romantic period and an accomplished edition appeared in 1833. It is known to have influenced
letter writer. the literature of the American writer Edgar Allan Poe
Von Hardenberg (1772-1801) of nearby Freiberg is (1809-49). As early as 1812 the Philadelphia journal Port
perhaps best known as Novalis (cultivator of new land), Folio referred to Schlegel’s Vienna lectures “On Dramatic
as he called himself. This profound lyric poet of great Art and Literature” (which had been published
melodic sadness was also a systematic and mystical thinker. in Heidelberg in 1809-11). An English translation of
Schelling (1775-1854) became a professor in Jena at age Friedrich’s History of Old and New Literature (Vienna, 1815),
appeared in Philadelphia in 1818. By 1833 scholarly discus¬ whose search for God moved him deeply; and the poems
sions of the Schlegel brothers appeared frequently in liter¬ of the prolific Meistersinger Hans Sachs (1494-1576). On 20
ary journals, particularly in the American Monthly Review. January 1801, deathly ill, the twenty-nine-year-old Novalis
They were respected, cited, and credited with stimulating left Dresden, but four days later he returned Tiberius
interest in aesthetic concepts in American literary criticism. Cavallo’s Treatment of the Theoretical and Practical
Strong ties also existed between the German and Knowledge of Electricity (Leipzig, 1783) to the library, an
English Romanticists. Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), the indication of his interest in the natural sciences.
great English historian and writer, valued German culture Another regular user of the library was Ludwig Tieck
and translated the works of many German writers for (1773-1853), a Romantic writer with a highly developed
English-speaking audiences. In 1829 he wrote a thoughtful sense of fantasy, who moved easily and skillfully in all
and stimulating essay on Novalis, which made a lasting literary genres. He lived in Dresden from 1801 to 1803
impression on Anglo-American audiences. Before the com¬ and later from 1819 to 1841 as councilor and drama critic.
plete translation was published in 1842, The New Yorker He became a central figure in the literary life of the
published in 1839, on *ts title Page’ a translation of the city. During his first stay in Dresden, Tieck made no
“Weinlied” from Novalis’s novel Heinrich von Ofterdingen. fewer than twenty-five visits to the library.
symbol of the Romantic concept of happiness in Henry Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811) was also living in Dresden.
van Dyke’s (1852-1933) Blue Flower {1902), a paraphrased A writer of international literary standing, he did not
version of the first dream in Heinrich von Ofterdingen. fit the aesthetic system of classical harmony fostered by
Romantics in the Library life was dominated by this view of reality in which
During the eighteenth century, the Court Library in where he found friends and understanding, he spent a
Dresden developed into a renowned European cultural happy period from 31 August 1807 to 29 April 1809. Earlier,
institution. The Romantic writers eagerly consulted its in 1801, he had written from Paris: “What’s happening
valuable resources during their visits to Dresden. The in my dear Dresden?” When he came to Dresden, he met
lending records from 1797 to 1803 show that the Schlegel a remarkable group of prolific intellectuals. Adam Muller
brothers visited the library on 3 July 1798 and that (1779—1829), an expert in many subjects, was giving
Friedrich borrowed the Gottingische Museum, while his brilliant lectures on German science and literature. He
brother delved into Anderson’s Collections of English Poets had written the introduction to Kleist’s Amphitryon.
(London, 1795). Several days later Friedrich, who was Many unpublished manuscripts were circulated among
studying the works of Petrarch, borrowed the Obras Livicas this group. The journal Phoebus, founded by Muller on 17
by another humanist, the Spaniard Diego Hurtado de December 1807, called for “popularizing all art works of
Mendoza (1503-75). the most contradictory forms and as varied as they can be,”
On 10 August 1799 Novalis visited the library for the to stimulate the advancement of ideas. The intention
first time. He made frequent visits thereafter in 1800 and was to test and promote directly and radically the early
1801, at least nine in all, revealing his interest in the Greek Romantic ideal of unity from multiplicity, as in the synthe¬
tragedians Aeschylus and Sophocles; the theosophical sizing of opposing texts. After its initial success, the journal
because of strong competition and a shortage of funds. basis of library science. His work Die Bildung des
Many of the great literary men of the day, from Goethe to Bibliothekars (1820) is still considered one of the standard
Christoph Martin Wieland, refused to contribute, causing authorities in the history of library science. In 1823
a decline in circulation. Nevertheless, Phoebus was the most when Ebert accepted the offer to go to Wolfenbiittel to
important literary journal focusing upon the aesthetic take charge of the library of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
debate to be published in Dresden. Its particular value (1729-81), the highly respected philosopher of the
lay in Kleist’s original contributions. Phoebus published the Enlightenment, Muller would have liked to take his place
powerful Robert-Guiskard Fragment, the draft of a play in Dresden and wrote, “May my deepest wish come true.”
that Kleist intended as the greatest drama of all time. His wish did come true: Dresden became Mullers second
Other important drafts of his pioneering creations are home and played a crucial role in his development as
known largely through this publication. a poet. Today the International Wilhelm Muller Society
(1794-1827) frequently visited Dresden. This Romantic In late autumn of 1828 Friedrich Schlegel came to
folk writer composed simple, lyrical poems that won wide Dresden for the last time. While there, he gave public lec¬
acceptance, such as “Am Brunnen vor dem Tore,” “Das tures and wrote a summary of his philosophy of life. From
Wandern ist des Mullers Lust,” and “Ich hort ein Bachlein 25 March to 31 May he had lectured in Vienna on the
rauschen.” His lyrical song cycles, such as Die schone philosophy of life and delivered eighteen lectures on the
Miillerin and Die Winterreise, became the greatest songs philosophy of history. These were challenging confronta¬
of composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828), the last master tions with the theories of the classical philosopher Georg
of the Viennese classical school. These unexcelled composi¬ Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). On 5 December 1828
tions embraced the content and mood of Muller’s poems. Schlegel began a series of lectures at the Hotel de Pologne
In a letter of 4 April 1824, Muller wrote about a trip in Dresden, where Adam Muller had also lectured. His
to Dresden, “This visit has already become an annual topic was the philosophy of language and words. He was
necessity for me.” Two weeks later, he wrote further, “I working on a universal system of Christian philosophy
cannot stand to be away from Dresden longer than a year.” when, on 11 January 1829, he suffered a heart attack while
He loved the cultural life of this city, where he had friends reading the manuscript of his next lecture. He died within
such as Tieck and the composer Carl Maria von Weber a few hours. The Dresden manuscripts were sent to
(1786-1826), a master of Romantic music. Muller dedicat¬ Vienna on orders of the Austrian chancellor Metternich
ed the second collection of his Waldhorn songs to Weber. (I773_I859)> who had known and liked Schlegel. Schlegel
The founders of the Dresden Choral Society honored this was buried in the Catholic cemetery in Dresden. Upon
young poet. During his numerous visits to the city, he receiving news of his death, Adam Muller, coeditor
always used the resources of the Royal Public Library, espe¬ of Phoebus, suffered a stroke and died.
cially while working on his encyclopedic fourteen-volume The young Friedrich Schlegel had once said in a
Library of Seventeenth-century German Writers (1822). moment of enthusiasm, “My feelings of youth were first
At the library Muller had close contacts with Friedrich awakened in beautiful Dresden, where I first saw true
Adolf Ebert (1791-1834), who since 1814 had been heavily works of art.” In the end he returned to the city forever.
Detail, Illustration 39
Ortrun Landmann
Music in Saxony
Meissen, Grimma, and Pforta, which were established after gian discovered during his studies at Leipzig that his real
the Reformation by the Saxon electors on confiscated vocation was music. A seventeenth-century example is
monastic estates. Pforta became widely known through the Heinrich Schiitz. Eighteenth-century examples include
publication of the motet collection, Florilegium Portense. Johann David Heinichen, who later became
Part i of the collection appeared in 1618, part 2 in 1621; Hofkapellmeister of the Dresden Hofkapelle; Johann
numerous copies of both parts are still in existence today, Friedrich Fasch, later Hofkapellmeister in Zerbst; Georg
for example, in the New York Public Library and the Philipp Telemann, who became a conductor in Frankfurt
Library of Congress. Original music manuscripts of the am Main and Hamburg; and the Dresden concert-master
St. Augustin School in Grimma, including several codices Johann Georg Pisendel. Several of Bach’s successors as
of musical compositions from the St. Afra School in music director at the St. Thomas Church were also gradu¬
Meissen, have been preserved and are today part of the ates of law and theology from Leipzig University. Among
holdings of the Saxon State Library. the nineteenth-century graduates were the composers
Just as the Florilegium Portense indicates the broad Heinrich Marschner and Carl Gottlieb Reiftiger, who
scope of the music repertoire in the city and princely were later in Dresden, as was Robert Schumann.
of the St. Thomas Church before Bach’s arrival in Leipzig In the capital city of Dresden, the Hofkapelle had such
in 1723. Without this collection of manuscripts, many high standing that the other musical groups in Saxony
of the earlier works of composers such as Johann could not seriously compete with it, although some of
Rosenmiiller, Johann David Heinichen, and Georg Philipp them were also excellent. When the Saxon electors were
Telemann, who lived temporarily in Leipzig, would not invited to the Reichstag in Berlin, they took along their
In Leipzig, musical life for centuries was centered in the worship services. It had been founded in 1548 as the earliest
city’s churches and university. Liturgical music reached Lutheran (court) ensemble, under the leadership of church
its height in the work and influence of Johann Sebastian music director and Hofkapellmeister Johann Walter. When
Bach, cantor of St. Thomas Church and director of music Elector Friedrich August I (August the Strong, d. 1733)
for Leipzig from 1723 to 1750. After his appointment converted to Catholicism in 1697 in order to become king
as cantor, Bach composed five complete cycles of cantatas of Poland, some members left the Hofkapelle for religious
for the church calendar, containing approximately sixty reasons, since the ensemble would now be integrated into
cantatas each, for a total of almost three hundred sacred the Catholic worship services. At the same time the old
works, a repertoire unparalleled in Leipzig’s musical organizational form of the Hofkapelle that had developed
Leipzig was also known for its Collegium Musicum, Obsolete instruments gave way to new ones that are still
Such groups were voluntary associations of professional Essential to this early development was the interna¬
musicians and university students that gave weekly public tional character of the Hofkapelle. From its beginning, it
to other countries, such as Italy or France, they adopted The conductor Michael Praetorius had relied on
new musical developments that they observed in their jour¬ the instruments of the Dresden Hofkapelle in his descrip¬
neys. In 1685 Johann Georg III (d. 1691) brought back tion of common and rare musical instruments for his
from a trip a prima donna whom he had lured away from Syntagma musicum (1615-20). Similarly, in 1910-n a group
the service of the duke of Mantua. This represented a from the Dresden Hofkapelle published a more general
dramatic change for the Holkapelle, since until this time three-volume work, Musical Instruments in Word
female stage roles had been played and sung by men (either and Picture, edited by E. Teuchert and E. W. Haupt.
in falsetto or in the naturally high voices of castrati).
instrumentalists participated increasingly in court concerts Saxony’s Music Publishing Industry and Depositories
and Heinrich Schiitz in 1627. Opera performances were A lively music-publishing industry developed as a result
especially well received in Dresden, as they are to this day. of the musical works produced in Saxony. Leipzig, with its
From 1662 to 1816 opera was sung almost exclusively in long-standing tradition of book publishing and book fairs,
Italian at the Dresden court; performances in French were gradually became the center of music publishing. Such
rare, and German performances took place only after the famous publishers as Breitkopf & Hartel and C. F. Peters
German Opera opened in 1817. Italian opera in Dresden were located in Leipzig. Although there was considerable
reached its zenith under the direction of Johann Adolf competition among the well-schooled Dresden court
Hasse (1734-63). The nineteenth-century German Opera, copyists in the field of hand-copied music, Leipzig
best known as the Hofoper, had two outstanding periods in the eighteenth century achieved a leading position
influenced respectively by the tenure as Hofkapellmeister in music publishing and it continued to enlarge its
of Carl Maria von Weber (1817-26) and Richard Wagner dominance of the market until the end of the nineteenth
For centuries the brilliant reputation of the Dresden to the United States that did not have its musical works
Johann Georg Pisendel, Antonio Rolla, and Karol Lipinski; This prodigious output of hand-copied and printed
cellists Friedrich Dotzauer, Friedrich August Kummer, and music posed a problem for storage and cataloging. For this
Friedrich Griitzmacher; flutists Pierre-Gabriel Buffardin, reason, during the nineteenth century large scholarly
Johann Joachim Quantz, and Anton Bernhard Fiirstenau; libraries became depositories for historical music material.
and oboists Johann Christian Richter and Antonio and Often the works had passed through the hands of private
Carlo Besozzi. The Dresden musicians were also sought- collectors and were donated to or purchased by the
written by the conductors Giovanni Andrea Bontempi In 1816 the noted librarian Friedrich Adolf Ebert
(Dresden, 1660), Christoph Bernhard (a work that survives established a Music Department at the Royal Public
in a seventeenth-century manuscript), and Johann David Library in Saxony, now the Saxon State Library. A special
Heinichen. Heinichen’s Basso Continuo in Music (Dresden, catalog lists the impressive original collection, which was
1728) is still considered the standard work on the subject. later enhanced by donations of entire collections. In 1890
Other important instructional works include Quantz’s the library received several music collections from Saxon
On Playing the Flute (published in Berlin in 1752, but churches, city archives, and schools; these were followed
mainly reflecting Dresden orchestra practice) and Moritz in 1897 by the splendid private music collection of the
Fiirstenau’s still unsurpassed History of the Theater and Saxon kings, dating primarily from the eighteenth and
Music in Saxony
nineteenth centuries. Unfortunately, the Hofkapelle’s
42. tion of the Saxon State Library. After the war, however,
Aus der Arbeit der Sdchsischen Landesbibliothek 1956-1965. Fuhrer durch das Buchmuseum. Edited by Christian
Edited by Burghard Burgemeister. Dresden: Sachsische Alschner. Dresden: Sachsische Landesbibliothek, 1979.
Aus der Arbeit der Sdchsischen Landesbibliothek: Goetze, Johann Christian. Die Merckwiirdigkeiten
Zehnjahrbericht 1966—1995. Edited by Burghard der Koniglichen Bibliotheck zu Dresden. Dresden: Walther,
Burgemeister. Dresden: Sachsische Landesbibliothek, 1743. 562 pp.
1977. 286 pp. Z803.D73 1977
Hantzsch, Viktor. Die Landkartenbestande der
Bollert, Martin. Jahresbericht der Sdchsischen Koniglichen Offentlichen Bibliothek zu Dresden. Zentralblatt
Deckert, Helmut. Katalog der Inkunabeln der Sdchsischen Jahresbericht der Koniglichen Offentlichen Bibliothek
Landesbibliothek zu Dresden. Zentralblatt fur (ab 1918 der Sdchsischen Landesbibliothek) 1910-1929. Jahrlich
Deckert, Helmut. Maya-Handschrift der Sdchsischen Katalog der Handschriften der Sdchsischen Landesbibliothek
Landesbibliothek Dresden: Geschichte und Bibliographic. zu Dresden. 5 vols. Dresden: Sachsische Landesbibliothek,
Ebert, Friedrich Adolf. Geschichte und Beschreibung Landesbibliothek. Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1936. 61 pp.,
der Koniglichen Offentlichen Bibliothek zu Dresden. Leipzig: ill. (including plans, plates). Z802.D77N
fur Fremde und Einheimische. Dresden: Arnoldische by Historische Komission der Sachsischen Akademie
Buchhandlung, 1846. 108 pp. der Wissenschaften and Sachsischen Landesbibliothek.
5 vols. Dresden: Sachsische Landesbibliothek, 1981-84.
Sachsische Landesbibliothek. Die Wettiner als Forderer Z2244.D7 B53 1981
von Kunst und Wissenschaft: Handschrifien, Stiche,
Zeichnungen, Druckwerke aus dem Bestand der Sdchsischen Dieckmann, Friedrich. Dresdner Ansichten: Spaziergdnge
Landesbibliothek Dresden: Ausstellung vom 1. Februar und Erkundungen. Frankfurt am Main: Insel-Verlag, 1995.
bis 30. Juni 1989, Sachsische Landesbibliothek Dresden. 194 pp., ill.
Edited by Katrin Nitzschke. Dresden: Sachsische
Landesbibliothek, 1989. 35 pp., ill. NX550.6.A3 S294 1989 Dresden: Ein Reisebuch. Edited by Katrin Nitzschke.
Landesbibliothek, 1987. 176 pp. Z803.S23 S24 1977 Umschau-Verlag, 1976. 128 pp., many ill. (some color).
DD901.D74 D74
Sachsische Landesbibliothek Dresden: 1336-1936; Festschrift
zum 400-jdhrigen Bestehen. Leipzig: Sachsische Dresden: Stadt der Fiirsten, Stadt der Kiinstler. Edited
Landesbibliothek, 1956. 298 pp. by Katrin Nitzschke and Lothar Koch. Bergisch Gladbach:
Liibbe, 1992. 256 pp., ill. (some color).
SLB-Kurier: Nachrichten aus der Sdchsischen DD901.D75 D75 1992
Landesbibliothek. Dresden: Direktor der Sachsischen
Landesbibliothek, 1987—. Ill. Z803.S23 S58 Gretzschel, Matthias. Die Dresdner Frauenkirche.
Flamburg: Ellert & Richter, 1994. 231 pp., ill.
Uber die Arbeitsteilung im Dresdner Bibliothekswesen:
Untersuchungen zu ihrer Geschichte und Perspektive; Loffler, Fritz. Das alte Dresden: Geschichte seiner Bauten.
wissenschaftliche Festveranstaltung anlafhch des 423-jahrigen Leipzig: Seemann, 1994. 504 pp.
Bestehens der Sdchsischen Landesbibliothek, Dresden,
13.10.1981. Edited by Burghard Burgemeister. Dresden: Marx, Harald. Dresden. Wurzburg: Stiitz, 1992. 144 pp.,
Sachsische Landesbibliothek, 1982. 108 pp., 3 leaves ill. (color). N6886.D7 K37 1994
of plates, 3 ill. (color), z803.s23.u27 1982
Museen in Dresden: Ein Fiihrer durch 42 Museen und
Bader, Karin, ed. Dresden in 144 Bildern. Leer: ...Oder Dresden: Fotos, Dokumente und Texte einer
Rautenberg, 1991. 144 ill. DD901.D74 D73 1991 Ausstellung 40 Jahre nach der Zerstorung der Stadt. Edited
Verbrannt bis zur Unkenntlichkeit: Die Zerstdrung Dresdens Gretzschel, Matthias. Sachsen. Hamburg: Ellert &
1945. Edited by Stadtmuseum Dresden. Altenburg: DZA Richter, 1993. 96 pp., many ill. (chiefly color).
Verlag fur Kultur und Wissenschaft, 1994. 161 pp., ill. DD801.S34 G75 1993
Czok, Karl. Am Hofe August des Starken. Stuttgart: 1991. 143 pp., ill. HC287.S3 M58 1991
Fellmann, Walter Sachsens letzter Konig, Friedrich Wechselwirkung und Ausstrahlung: Beitrdge des interna-
August III. Berlin: Koehler & Amelang, 1992. 263 pp., ill. tionalen Kolloquiums zum 575. Jahr der Universitatsgriindung
DD801.S44 F45 1992 am 26. und 27. November 1984 in Leipzig. Edited by
Karl Czok. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1987. 242 pp., ill.
Bibliography
Zimmermann, Ingo. Sachsens Markgrafen, Kurfursten und John, Hans. Der Dresdner Kreuzchor und seine Kantoren.
Konige: Die Wettiner in der meissnisch-sdchsischen Geschichte. Berlin: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 1982. 176 pp., ill.,
Berlin: Berliner Verlags-Anstalt Union, 1990. 141 pp., ill. including 32 pp. of plates. ML2929.J64 1982
Other Works of Interest Klein, Thomas. Der Kampf um die zweite Reformation in
Kursachsen, 1986—1991. Cologne: Bohlau, 1962. x + 220 pp.
Blaschke, Karlheinz, et al., eds. Freistaat Sachsen stellt BR358.S3 K55 1962
Breul, Karl Herrmann. The Romantic Movement in Koenigsberger, Helmut Georg. Luther: A Profile.
German Literature. Cambridge: HefFer, 1927. xiv + 506 pp. London: Macmillan, 1973. xxii + 234 pp. BR326.K575 1973b
PTI172.B7
record (2 sides, 7 in., 45 rpm) laid in. ML280.8.D7 K733 Pietzsch, Gerhard. Sachsen als Musikland. Dresden:
Verlag Heimatwerk Sachsen, 1938. 96 pp., ill. (including
Jager, Eckhard. Leipzig im Spiegel alter Graphik: Eine music plates and facs.), portrait. ML280.P5 S2
Splendors of Dresden, The. New York: Newsweek, 1979. Ziolkowski, Theodore. German Romanticism and Its
N2280.S67 Institutions. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.
440 pp. PT361.Z48 1990
ML284.8.D7S7 1978
Bibliography
Illustrations
m—
i. Item 2
Machsor mechol haschana. (Jewish Holy Day Prayer Book of Weeks, Passover, and the feast commemorating the
for the Whole Year.) Germany, c. 1290. Vellum. deliverance of the Jews from a Persian plot, along with
poetry by Rabbi Meir von Rothenburg (1215-93) and the
Moses receives the Ten Commandments and presents renowned Hebrew poet Juda Halevi (1075-1141). Part 2
them to the people. of this work, containing prayers for the remaining holy
This magnificent manuscript is a testimony to German days, is located in Wroclaw, Poland. Both parts were
Jewry of the Middle Ages. Machsorim (cycles) are the written by Reuben, a pupil of Rabbi Meir, probably in
special prayer books for Sabbath and other holy days. Esslingen. The beautiful miniatures by an anonymous
The Dresden manuscript contains prayers for the Feast Gentile illuminator are painted in Christian Gothic style.
50.
■
^ iJX'fnx cn CxfCeur fa mincffc ~ Sc (ifjx
JoK:x(|pimi rtVyiiitcr rljiubc
~fnt cij
frlllOlinUtt
mrojANimr(i>«
man 3
cfrc
[tJOTiifurfotla TVfSil* A '1' ’! c 8
ivn O’l.i uidHiaflUIUf Ifcif 0%£aftefthu
Vi1 ... .A'C**:-
2. Tifiera A
Petrarca, Francesco: Des remedes de l’une et l’autre Jean Daudin’s translation, is dedicated to King Charles VII
fortune. (Of Remedies for Fortune Fair and Foul.) France, and is an outstanding example of Flemish fifteenth-century
mid-fifteenth century. Vellum. workmanship, with its delicate gold initials and arabesques.
Especially outstanding are the two miniatures, the early
Scholar and disciple at home. work of Jacques de Besamjon. Before it was acquired for
In 1365 the renowned Italian poet Francesco Petrarca the Dresden collection in 1725, the manuscript had several
(1304—74) wrote Of Remedies for Fortune Fair and Foul, in illustrious French owners: Jacques d’Armagnac, count of
which he offers advice, in the form of dialogues between Nemours (d. 1477), Antoine de Bourgogne (d. 1564), and
Reason and Agony, on thinking clearly in times of happi¬ Countess Anne Henriette de Conde (d. 1723).
ness and sorrow. The Dresden manuscript, containing
3. Item 8
Boccaccio, Giovanni: Des cas des nobles hommes et even the powerful. Written around 1360, this work was
femmes. (Of the Fate of Illustrious Men and Women.) soon translated into all the major European languages.
France, c. 1520. Vol. 2. Vellum. Volumes 2-5 of the magnificent manuscript date from 1520
and show that handwritten manuscripts were produced for
Boccaccio and his audience. the wealthy and powerful even after the invention of print¬
Though he is today better known for his Decameron, until ing. The dedicatory inscription indicates that Charles
the middle of the sixteenth century Giovanni Boccaccio de Bourbon gave the volumes to King Francis I of France.
was most famous for his work Of the Fate of Illustrious Men Two hundred years later, they were presented to the Saxon
and Women. Using biblical, classical, and mythological elector Augustus the Strong by Prince Karol Stanisfaw
examples, he shows how a change in fortune can destroy Radziwifh
Illustrations
FRANCHINI GAFORI LAVDENSIS . MVSICE ACTIO,
Inis. ([Tiber primvs.
Tfiharmonlcam fclcnriamplcriqucccffan,<
tc vfu^quodthcodcicft^Iogcaudiius quam
q Ipfa func cxcrcltarione profcquuri: hos ta e
men ad tantum harmpni* vfum nulla credf *
tucfclenria puenlrcnonpotul(Tc:Quld enltn
prarftantlflimos vetercs lllos prlmo cheori>
cas confcrlptos commcmoremf'qum Orphe,
um: Atnphlonem: Llnura thebeum: Ano,
nem 6C Thimoteurn ac rellquoslpfa pofterb
tas celebrant: quorum cocmcufAfu mquam^altcrferas: faxa alter SC (IP
1 uas:Aquarilesbduasakcr:agrcftcfq; anlmos SC rudesdcmulxerc.hos
£C dlGpllnr IpGuslnftlcutls SC ipfa ach'onecoflat ccleberrimos cxtltilTc .
J Nec tcmcrePychagorlcos Ipfos SC Plaronicos atq; Parhypatetleos in mo
I dlumadduxcro: quorum luflu difclpllnandls.adolcfcenribusSCnatura.,
j lis!8C artifidofi vocis vfus plurimum comendaturiquod ca quldem ratio ^
j ncafTcrtum eft: quura Ariftoxenus muficus atq; Phllofopbus teftaMy,,
1 choTullio-prirao tulculanarum queftlonumripfius corporis
I qu'adaravclutmcantuSCfidibus:qu*harmonladlcltur;ficcxtotluscqr
porlsnatura SC fiigura varios modes fieri tanq In catu fonos affirmaucrlt,
(flf>unt 6C qul vanas pofuercpotcntlas nlfircdiganturad actus: qua re
cxercltatloncm melodicaivocls fentiuntharmonica; confydeiiatlonl plu^
rimutri contull (lemon q, variant el multltudlncm fed Ipfam adhibeat per.*
fcctloncm. ([Eftlglturntufica: adtlo motus fonorum cofonantlas ac me. 1
[ lodlam eftidens. Quos quldetn fonos fruftra ratloneSC fclcntla colllge: j
mus: inElpfa fuerint cxerdtatlonccompraihenfi. Hluc corum Intcnlio,
nesrcmlflioncfq;acconfonantlasnonanlmotantum atq;ratloncdcdau,
dltus SC pronutlarionls coufuctudlnc pcrnotefccre necefle cft.([Sed neq;
ali
4. Item 12
Gaffurius (Gafori), Franchinus: Practica Musicae. musical notation. The second and fourth editions (Brescia,
(The Performance of Music.) Milan, 1496. Printed 1497 and 1508) became items 4 and 5 in the newly estab¬
on vellum. lished Music Department of the library. Today they are
rarer than the first edition. A fine copy of the first edition
Choir and musical cherubs. was purchased by then librarian Falkenstein, who com¬
From 1451 to 1522 Franchinus Gaffurius, the highly educat¬ mented on its connection with the library: “Francesco
ed conductor of Milan Cathedral, was considered the Morlacchi, the last conductor of the Italian Opera House
authority on musical theory. During his lifetime his text¬ in Dresden, sold this copy to the Konigliche Bibliothek
book Practica Musicae was published in six editions. He in September 1841 shortly before departing for Italy to cure
greatly influenced music theory by relating theory and his consumption. He was not to reach his goal: he died
practice and by enhancing the application of intervals and October 28 in Innsbruck.”
5. Item is
Durer, Albrecht: Passio Domini Nostri Jesu. (The and the Apocalypse. Created over a period of time (the
Passion of Our Lord Jesus.) Nuremberg, 1511. leaf on display, for example, dates between 1496 and 1499),
they were first gathered in one volume and printed with
Christ on the Cross. the Latin verses of Benedict Chelidonius in 1511. The
The artistic legacy of Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) includes Dresden exemplar owes its special charm to the colorful
not only his work as a painter, graphic artist, and drafts¬ floral border and its illumination probably done in
man, but also his work as an art historian. This sketchbook Diirer’s workshop.
contains the master’s original drawings and his autograph
manuscript of book 1 of his Proportionslehre (Guidelines for
Proportions). This treasure contains three woodcut series:
the life of the Virgin Mary, the Passion of Jesus Christ,
Illustrations
54-
- ^ _
-x C ^(]fo fomentberjSungut
tfjiubemlebenfvtfdjbnnbjcfunb ^
L©o tm llbetfeibtgcnftunb
(prmjev^emalc bon bnne ojcnoiuen
^ modern auc§ tufig fomcn
Danu Jrrtfccin cmfTUc^ev (td<xn
£Safttmb un( mcpcer fa$en att_
6. Item 16
Pfinzing, Melchior: Theuerdank. Augsburg, 1519. assistance of the court poet, Melchior Pfinzing, this allegori¬
cal poem in the tradition of the heroic epics describes the
Theuerdank’s horse being hit by a bullet. young Maximilian’s courtship of Maria, heiress to
Emperor Maximilian I (1459—1519) created a literary monu¬ Burgundy. It is one of the earliest books written in Fraktur
ment to himself with his poem Theuerdank, the only one and is enhanced by woodcuts by the artists Hans
of several planned literary works to be completed and pub¬ Burgkmair, Hans Schaufelein, and Leonhard Beck, depict¬
lished during his lifetime. No other book of the time ing everyday life at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
compares with it in typographic and artistic workmanship.
Conceived by the emperor himself and written with the
7. Item ip
Wahrhaftige Abcontrafactur und Bildnis aller broad education with extensive interests in theology, history,
GroBherzogen von Sachsen. (Authentic Representations and jurisprudence. His court was a vital center of humanis¬
and Portraiture of Ail the Grand Dukes of Saxony.) tic studies, the arts, and music. In 1502 he founded the
Dresden, 1586. Vellum. University of Wittenberg, where Luther became a professor
in 1512. The elector granted Luther protection while publicly
Elector Friedrich the Wise. remaining neutral. In 1521 he provided Luther safe-conduct
The study of Martin Luther and the Reformation also to the imperial Diet in Worms and provided him asylum
involves considering the role of Elector Friedrich the Wise at Wartburg Castle at the risk of endangering his own state.
(1463-1525). He was a man of profound religious beliefs and The elector’s politics allowed the Reformation to spread.
Illustrations
w VS.
tirfo
^vr/^j, jZ-r-y^l r O-TH-'J TMyr, pyvfj-prr $-rv
? /
/V^fafa? f)
/v ; rr*'
x <-f«
Cti* }rf*ni r*fa fa* oln/lt/r f*T^^'-
'7UW « 4*&*^r*/yr</z -
4>^ ^-.lu .- • sPr TT% • ~r ■Qf~™~~£ ■
.. . •'•,
8. tow 34
Luther, Martin: Autograph letter to Duchess Katharina who had for years been one of Luther’s followers. The
of Saxony. Wittenberg, 28 July 1539. Reformation now proceeded in the duchy of Saxony,
though with resistance in Leipzig on the part of monks,
Duke Georg, ruler of the Albertinian part of Saxony university theologians, and some members of the city
(1471—1539), successfully opposed Luther’s Reformation in council. Luther’s letter of 28 July 1539, opening with the
his state. However, his successor and younger brother, words, “... because my esteemed Lord Duke Heinrich [is]
Heinrich (1473—1541), sympathized with the Reformation, old and frail ...,” sought Katharina’s support for the
supported by his wife Duchess Katharina (1487—1561), implementation of the Reformation in the duchy.
IlflpMctptocreamt
dots eda t frlZerra.n.erai ina'
iris i pacua % tenebte erat Tup fa'
ac abjflT a (pa dfi! ferebatur Tup
aquaa.Euptqjde’.fiatlur. £t S7-
facta e luju£t pidit de’ luce qp eet
bomua duriftt luce a tenebwuap
pdlauitcB lueem diejra tenebtaa
nocte-factuqs epefpea mane di
ilea piuta.dipt quoqs dc\ fiat fir'
a foriente fane iujc genus fount: Ugruimq; fa' ucrfo ope qo patrarar.Ct bencdijritdid fcp'
dene fructumra babens rinnmqoqs femente rimoitlacttficauitfllaqmpfocefiaucratab
fimfpeaemfuasXtuidltdeuetpeflctbonn- oiopere fuoquodcreautt dcuaut foccrct.
a factum eftpdpereet manedica terriua.Eri 3fte fum gnariones cell a terrequando crca
jit autem dcua.-fumt luminaria in firmame te funt in die quo fedt data cclum a terram:
to cdi a diuidant diem ac noctenut full in ft' ? ointicwgultu agri amcqs otirctur in terra |
9. Item 45
Biblia. (The Bible.) Venice, 1479. Printed on vellum. ture. His Antiqua type, which recreates the letter forms
of Roman inscriptions in modern print, is considered the
The creation of man, the Fall, and the expulsion perfect embodiment of humanistic ideals. This vellum
Venice’s reputation as an early printing center was above all the Dresden exemplar the major initials are illuminated,
based on the works of Nikolaus Jenson, who from 147° with the smaller ones in red and blue. The two leaves with
until his death in 1480 printed ninety-eight known works, miniatures are precious, especially that showing several
primarily classical works and legal and theological litera¬ themes from Genesis.
Illustrations
.©ottcs wort
jSwt W&
58.
furftUdxrsu 95ack»fen
iHitin nni
..
HBBhSSH!Sfiffii
io. Item 48
Biblia deutsch. Ubersetzt von Martin Luther. (The Bible in sections into a complete Bible and thoroughly revised the
German. Translated by Martin Luther.) Wittenberg, 1534. text with the assistance of the Wittenberg scholars Philipp
Melanchthon, Justus Jonas, and Caspar Cruciger. The work
Title page of the first complete Bible in Luther’s was richly illustrated with historiated initials and 117
translation. woodcuts from the workshop of Lucas Cranach and shows
This Bible is considered one of Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) Luther’s strong influence on its pictorial themes. It was
greatest linguistic accomplishments. He first translated completed in September 1534 and sold at the Leipzig fair
the New Testament in 1522. His translation of the Old that October for 2 guilders, 8 groschen for an unbound
Testament was interrupted by political upheaval and was copy. For comparison, a schoolmaster of the time earned
published in parts until 1534. Luther united the separate approximately 4 guilders annually.
HOSVA.
DeiK robo-
rat H fola-
turlofuam.
Caput I.
Tfaftum ell
poll mortem
Mojfo ferui
DOMINI, ht
a 3tdj bent <ob
SSJfofc bee fnc«
XOC'JI/fprari}
(Sett dereKt
»nb irSflrt
7Jofua/cic.
59-
ber-pgOtX
loqueretur domuvi ad jtt^ofimbtm <5cn5hm/
Iofoe filium Nun, mini* StRofea fticner:
forum Mojfo, isr diceret:
Moyjes ferutis mens
SOWn frtecljf SSJtofc i(I go
rnortim eH,niic ergo for¬
|iorbcn/©o maefj biefj nu
ge, Ur tranfo lordanem auff/»nbjcuc^tibcr biefen
ijlum tu iy omnis popu- 3crb(m/bu»nb bis gand
Ins A ?OoW/|
ii. Item 52
Biblia Germanico-Latina. (German-Latin Bible.) woodcut portrait of the elector after a painting by Lucas
Wittenberg, 1565. Printed on vellum. Cranach the Younger. Several sets, beautifully bound, were
given to friendly princes. Displayed here is the private
Saxon elector Augustus. copy of Elector Augustus, which includes a unique vellum
In numerous manuscripts and books is the statement that sheet with the inscription: “His lordship the elector of
they were written or printed “by order of” Elector Augustus Saxony began reading this Bible on June 9 in the year [15)85
(1526-86). Thus, in 1565 he had printed in Wittenberg at and finished on August 23 of the same year. It took ten
his expense this twenty-volume Bible in Latin and German, weeks and five days.”
partly on vellum, and richly decorated with colored
miniatures and initials. In each volume is an illuminated
Illustrations
Ate Cretans ber vtstutn well.
12. Item yy
Kentmann, Johannes: Krauterbuch. on many scientific subjects. In 1563, commissioned
(Book of Herbs.) 1563. by Elector August, he compiled his Krauterbuch (Book
of Herbs), a systematic arrangement of approximately
Red apples from the New World (,tomato plants). 600 illustrations of trees, bushes, shrubs, and domestic
Johannes Kentmann (1518-74) was the typical sixteenth- and wild plants, executed by the Torgau artist, David
century German scientist. Born in Dresden, he studied Redtel. The Krauterbuch was never printed, and this
in Leipzig and Wittenberg, and in Bologna, Italy, where unique manuscript remains a treasure of the Saxon
he earned his doctorate in medicine and surgery. In his State Library.
long career as a principal physician at Torgau, he wrote
61.
13. Item 60
Mair, Paulus Hector: Fecht-, Ring- und Turnierbuch. participating in exhibition bouts and giving lessons. Books
(Book of Fencing, Wrestling, and Jousting.) Mid-sixteenth on these subjects were popular, particularly in the sixteenth
century. century. Even Albrecht Diirer wrote a work on fencing.
This manuscript by Paulus Hector Mair (1517-79) contains
Duel with long swords. 242 vivid illustrations depicting duels with swords, with
In the Middle Ages fencing and wrestling were not only halberds, and even with toothed sickles. The author died
exercises for war preparation but also a favorite art form at a tragic death: after forty-four years in service to the city
social events for the nobility and the city society. Fencing of Augsburg, he was hanged for misappropriation of
and wrestling champions traveled from town to town public funds.
Illustrations
Icljfirti '^yirwenJen , it< Xrrhvomltn (ij a\\ mib
gvXm w eve If , AuSjV rm vov jytp^m vivT rtiV 'Vflfncn
^tnitv IjeVAttpr vollen mart die vm* micv vtcljtcl*,
Aic tnenmn fu cejfyg^tf ^tt(?lcn , trtemntij nfevc
allcii IWclnJc von vttjn ftmhiA^cmAi'[)f vPccAe auA)
AicjVlUn aljo triiF (JvoWn rmvr vtnt>wrnAeVnA <Mr vm
Q
“S?ortt YttvVVijVitkT..
as vr.Jcvavalvtt wixt ,^u
Von Am "Tmvefc.cn vtl oelttuicgt’
Senftenberg, Veit Wolff von: Kriegserfindungen. from whose attacks Senftenberg himself had suffered.
(Military Inventions.) Second half of sixteenth century. To assure secrecy he did not allow the work to be printed.
This Dresden copy, a parchment manuscript with informa¬
Mining of a fortress. tive, colorful pictures, describes the different weapons
Military historians consider Veit Wolff von Senftenberg a and their most effective use. In fighting the Turks, poison¬
leading authority on artillery of his day. Around 1570 he ing the water supply was considered permissible and an
wrote Kriegserfindungen (Military Inventions), based on his effective and secure communication network was essential.
own experience and designed to help defeat the Turks,
\i(V&w ift tuv< uiiiu n^WfrK jicfi < vftluidmicljucrw iviiOauijimtoAfiC^o »w« nwu
iiiu^vnuN uut^a1(| o?Cr ivoUy im\t v<nu vlclrfi&urc u vm< ffai. vut MWimuroi infcm iiie ww,tr
ftM ffac tvirtf <$ Irnfattycmaci? yDU;iuiuVHfiu iy<«;touo»v<r ton divmtUf) mf> jicfiiV.O
(xifdn vf^DUws Wftijjis aimtimwpr (IpivTfi i\v vife Sfi wrft^crn ivlK.Jcilmt'ii fd(
15. Item 62
Loeneyss, Georg Engelhart: Griindlicher Bericht responsible for arranging all official court functions.
und Ordnung der Gebisse. (Thorough Report on His Della cavalleria, continually reprinted into the eigh¬
Equestrian Dentistry.) 1576. teenth century, was the summation of his experience
in these fields. The Dresden manuscript depicts not only
A young stallion and the bit. the numerous horse bits, reins, muzzles, and grooming
This manuscript, magnificently bound by Jakob Krause, implements, but also the horses themselves, outfitted with
belonged to Elector August’s private library. The author was saddles, ornamental harnesses, and blankets, and
from 1523 to 1584 both the elector’s equerry and the person a complete tournament.
Illustrations
XX
^JStattikcoM.
5 ©fcinbb(c©t4ttc/f0ni(tfelntti'pfdltbPi!i6rfitgct/g(i
- iiicmigfoSm [ufHgcrato bit aneem/ it>it Dkfe 5(jur/fo We
©tatt@cci)tagcncmi«n>(rbt/ rictxc ccmti«fa<mrmi|>
(Pclfcf.S<imibnfcl6|tfitibf»i sublet jpiSufcr »nn& @dr»
) fett/it* bet 33uc(j(i«6 ©bcfcidiiKt/ (m»dd)ctt it) 4cb(i ba j
‘2n6nco/t>otil{mcit'23ppoSDOcgciictiiict.<jBfttit>aucOt>mb
5 ticfclkn'SBiilfc/imrdc^mfk^Irfcicfmgai, ©ofcinb
mid) baft!6fi Ccf c^btetinfW$r$orrifdl)ni, Siuffbtti^rfmi barocn fit tin
gcrafi/ tmDOaraufft(n obtt^jiJtfeti / fotlc^o pcna<$ art tfwce §al<
bm({W'c[sbtbctfm/(o(cb<r25iicb(la()3.6cbciUct.3nblcfcm6tffeU«ifictiit
5S?«fitcr/ baim a feinb nllbti fosid'S bgtl pimb ?&icr/ bgffy fc ferro fiailcb t
64. ficifIigniii(f)«m/b(r©arocn(ii(tirljtr}cltitii|Taf|Tc'|T(ii»ili-b(/bcffent»(gni
nm|;otr5Bn()(cc.of;iieiiieclii(ituff£it/bii6dngct(f(6imicf)[ii. ©cuSamtii
«6ctf^efiemifl'c(iicfi)I4c(!rbmiiig/n)c([0i)b(cS5ii(j|?(i6§.mign«(ft(/foh({
itn'uDc Dm> cincflct»4cf>p Durc& t)au an&crcrfhcft/tin&f.iuXoni/ioi'e fidiege*
butt/ mditraffnicrbni/ Damt fetne ‘©letter fine fogro)) a(9 bit ©letter bep
grulTtn 9vor«/l»lc amSSiicbftabcuC). 511 fcQcii. @it|«6cnautbclnm fonber«
Ii(Ocn'pr(il}/inltg.g(jtl.(bii(t/(iuffii)i'i(b(m/n)grat|i(mlt^tciiII?a(f)biiftimt
(iflbijjufomratit fomitiw/ |f)re/Mi§miil)pc|l (batxmin bWfijtmfiiijm
Sigumigttcbllfmititben/bcgctjoi.jOiitimtbgt^eiifitaulfciiKmirt/burtb
bmi5uc|rta6tn©.6ebtutct/tmb^giKitbaft(6f{/re®«f?cre|)(ti. Oejcnobcr
fta6<nficcmcnmubeii©obcii/itmbeiti25uc()rra6ciiS.gc)eicljnec/ba61iif?e
|itb/fir3»t5ttt!lt0»@tbrttjut§uig i)(jfgtti((ti. Tficfr firm Bon bic|cm 1(1
• tin Weil c» ©ebto/ mle2(.gc3cic()iict/ in ft>e(cf/em btt grolTct J; tmi ©cgr<U»
intfTc Rub / mif au0 ber sipci; tmb jitnmbigiicn Sigurcn ctfcbemcn irlrbt. ©it
pabeflurf;®dr(eit/miwI(6citficelne8mebt/cincm2(pPeli>ber'Pfc6englei(b<
CMpMcn/butcb bcn©iicOf[abeii Jbejclt&neb @b Jgbnt fie gMict n>c(<
fc cintn urt/buvtf) jtuugcbe utet/anffiutlcbtra (it jujeiten (ret ^o(;tn §e|ie tin
5cioctnnjil|gtt.Srnu(Ttn/nlcbif(rmm)n btr@tatt/&a6enficctoflle|fm«
tt»'JBafftr/butcf)S.angcbtuftt/mi(jiwitbtmfie®afftcf(b3pffttt- &m<u
c6n(M>bcrttcgciiblcfc&ut/mllgarfc(iicm@clli6([pben/lufiigPnbfrJIic&.
Cub natl) Dan |Tc /(ire grofte Sep bci) 9Iae&t begcfwi Pnnb fallen/ biro fotgtn
Itgtn (italic pnbliccblcSettcr an/jumcrfltiibatumb/baJ fit nltfit
iiufinficni (irgucbicii/juninnbtrn/bn^fit/^ttftttpbt
Piiwt(n«iber}iiwr/I{$<ti
gcbtn.
16. Item 67
Harriot, Thomas: Customs of the Savages in Virginia. appeared in London, was dedicated by the publisher to
Frankfurt am Main, 1590. Saxon elector Christian I (1560—91). Harriot presents a vivid
picture of the conditions he observed in this part of the
Indian settlement. New World, especially the natural resources and their possi¬
Thomas Harriot (1560-1621) was official surveyor for ble use by English settlers, as well as the habits and customs
the expedition led by Sir Richard Grenville in 1585-86 to of the native inhabitants. The twenty-three full-page
Roanoke Island off the coast of present-day North engravings, after originals by the Dutch artist Johann With,
Carolina. This German edition, published in Frankfurt by and hand colored in the Dresden exemplar, add to the
Theodor de Bry in 1590, two years after the first edition value of this work.
Inventionen zu Schlittenfahrten. (A Book of Various weddings, baptisms, and carnivals were occasions to
Inventions for Sled Travel.) Dresden, 1602. stage such events, which often had biblical, mythological,
and exotic themes, as well as everyday motifs celebrating
Sled with astronomer. the trades of Saxony, such as the mining industry. These
In 1602 the Dresden painter Daniel Bretschneider presented pageants played an important role in enhancing the ruler’s
Elector Christian II with several designs for sleds. He was image before his subjects and other rulers. This custom is
awarded 50 guilders for his efforts. Emulating the great well documented, in part by the survival of so many Saxon
courts of France, Italy, England, and Spain, the Saxon rulers illustrated manuscripts of the sixteenth-eighteenth centuries.
Illustrations
18. Item 69
Tierhatz auf dem Altmarkt zu Dresden. (Animal Chase in Animals, including deer, boar, bears, wolves, rabbits,
Dresden’s Altmarkt.) 1609. wildcats, foxes and raccoons, were brought in, chased, and
killed before hundreds of spectators. The show, in this case
The boar chase. a boar hunt, culminated in a battle between bears and
The event documented in this illustrated manuscript bulls. Such public chases offered city dwellers the
appears bizarre to us today. Eight large leaves depict the opportunity to experience the thrill of the hunt enjoyed
Altmarkt in Dresden at carnival time, entirely surrounded for centuries by the court.
by buildings, with the City Hall (Rathaus) to the north.
With the richly ornamental and colorful binding of this Caspar Meuser (1550-93) was an apprentice of Jakob
volume, Urban Koblitz demonstrates that he was among Krause and, from 1574, Krause’s successor in the court
the outstanding bookbinders in Saxony, along with bindery. He used the panels and stamps designed by
Jakob Krause and Caspar Meuser (see figures 19 and 21). Krause, but evolved his own style, characterized by profuse
All that is known of him is that he worked in Dresden vinework. This heart-shaped prayerbook, designed for
and later in Leipzig. Anna, the wife of Elector August, is a particularly fine
example of his artistry.
Illustrations
22 . Item 80
Bretschneider, Daniel: Contrafactur des Ringrennens of the Hofkapelle not only performed as musicians in the
und anderer Ritterspiele auf Christians fiirstlichem Beilager festival processions, but also dressed in lavish costumes as
am 25. April Anno [15)82 in Dresden. (Contrafactum of actors. The item on display, originally a scroll and later
the Ring Competition and Other Knightly Games at the bound in book form, describes the ceremonies on the occa¬
Princely Consummation of Christian’s Marriage on April 25 sion of an electoral wedding. Elector August is preceded
of the Year [15)82 in Dresden.) Dresden, c. 1582. here by enchained figures representing Death, the Devil,
Justice, two Heralds, and the Muses. Members of the
Procession with members of the Hofkapelle Hofkapelle with their instruments can be identified in the
dressed as women. procession. The instruments were described a generation
The Dresden court had a long and splendid tradition later by Michael Praetorius in his Syntagma musicum.
of designing fancy-dress festivals in the city. Members
Illustrations
Z4* Item 103
Biblia. Ubersetzt von Martin Luther. (The Bible. Translated divided among his four sons. His youngest son, Moritz
by Martin Luther.) Nuremberg, 1652. (1619—81), became the ruler of the new duchy of Sachsen-
Zeitz. Although this may have been a politically dubious
Bible of Elector Moritz of Sachsen-Zeitz, with his decision, the duchy benefited culturally. The new
coat of arms. duke’s dynamic building program soon remedied the
The velvet-bound Bible on display is an example of the destruction caused by the Thirty Years’ War. Moritz
book treasures that came to the Dresden Court Library. Castle (Moritzburg) in Zeitz was an early example
The head of the Albertinian line, Elector Johann Georg I, of baroque architecture. The duke also supported the
proclaimed that upon his death Saxony should be arts and music.
2Item 108
Atlas Royal. Yol. i. Amsterdam, 1707. (maps, views, plans, portraits), primarily of Dutch and
French—less often of Italian, English, or German—
Queen Anne of England. origin dating to the seventeenth and early eighteenth
This unique atlas testifies to both the love of splendor and centuries. The volume on display contains fifty priceless,
the interest in science of August the Strong (1670-1733). masterfully tinted engravings, depicting English court
The atlas was produced for him in Amsterdam, once dress around 1700.
the center of the map trade, in 1706-10. In nineteen large-
format morocco volumes, the atlas contains roughly 1,400
beautifully illuminated, printed or hand-drawn leaves
Illustrations
. .
26 Item iop
Poppelmann, Matthaus Daniel: Entwurf fur einen the project was to involve merely the construction of an
Zwingerpavillon. (Draft for a Zwinger pavilion.) orangery in the Zwinger section of the fortress complex.
Dresden, 1712-13. But the plans grew more elaborate in conjunction with
the proposed construction of a new castle. Original plans
The Dresden Zwinger, a masterpiece of baroque architec¬ in the Saxon State Library show the grand scale of the over¬
ture, would have been inconceivable without the initiative all concept, of which only the Zwinger was realized, in
and influence of August the Strong. Two of the fore¬ modified form. The rampart shown here as a rectangular
most artists of the era, the architect Matthaus Daniel structure, for example, was ultimately built in a more
Poppelmann (1662-1736) and the sculptor Balthasar graceful oval form.
Permoser (1651-1732), executed his concept. Initially,
Illustrations
z8. Item 123
Merian, Maria Sibylla: Metamorphosis insectorum in their various developmental stages and the plants she
Surinamensium. (Metamorphosis of the Insects of found them on. The Saxon State Library is fortunate
Surinam.) Amsterdam, 1705. to own one of the few surviving copies of Merian’s work,
one colored by the author-artist herself.
Jasmine bush with butterfly and snake.
In 1699 a woman set out on a journey. Her destination
was unusual and her purpose even more so: Maria Sibylla
Merian (1647-1717) journeyed from Holland to Surinam
to study and depict insects. The results of her two-year
stay in the jungle were published in 1705 in a large-format
folio, which earned her a place of honor among
naturalists. Trained as a painter and obsessed with
a desire for knowledge, she studied and drew the insects
Illustrations
r.Zt frf^
-Q -I -
:
3E3CS \__•_ k S ~_R » j;' "f
17Z ~ ~
—r:—--«-=*
.
~
*
7 tv-pj - i!
——
TLZI
|
B c—=
— -2 ■ ■
-J' ft J
1 U
h 2!E3S2^
- • ■ -^ -
jt ± z =■ 5 » ^
1
• C» -D-
S'-i ,
2 a-
*'
=
Z'rff h- ' A-C ■ p?J-VS ~&t
9-vy
,_g_, _
= :
_ fc
_
7 7 y/f
& l'
.
,
30 . Item 139
Wagner, Richard: Das Liebesmahl der Apostel. Biblische “stereophonic” dialogue among several choir groups,
Szene fur Mannerstimmen und grofles Orchester. followed by the entrance of full orchestra. It had its
(The Love Feast of the Apostles. Biblical Scene for Male premiere under his direction at the Dresden Frauenkirche
Voices and Large Orchestra.) Autograph Score. on 6 July 1843. Twelve hundred Saxon singers are said
Dresden, 1843. to have participated in the choirs, and the premiere was
an extraordinary success.
Richard Wagner, Hofkapellmeister in Dresden from 1842
until his flight in 1849, wrote this unique work as a
der kurfurstlich sachsischen Armee. (Uniforms of the Army created a standing army in 1682, and the office of comman¬
of the Electorate of Saxony.) 1791. dant was created for Dresden in 1692. One of the duties of
the commandant and his adjutants was opening and closing
City commander and adjutant on the Neumarkt. three city gates and lowering and raising the drawbridges.
Dresden, the capital of Albertinian Saxony since 1485, The illustration shows the commandant and adjutant, over¬
was expanded into a fortress in the sixteenth century. It was sized, in colorful uniform, in the Dresden Neumarkt, with
protected by the citizenry until 1587, when a regular the Frauenkirche and the Art Gallery to the left.
Illustrations
fT//' rA rr/e yr/Y./r (A/ A'r’/r rA/ - ( v/r,/A
r //f'/s/ss v/> ZJ/{/;.\. r.l
.. (/'
f t'/r /r/ZZei /If’ Z ///// r/rZ///Z Zr ///
Zr/ (f■■,
rwt'f Z///Z,//, ■
32 . Item 143
Dresden. View of the City from the Southwest. End of the Neustadt (New Town), and the Elbe River bridge
eighteenth century. (above it the gardens and buildings of the Briihlian terrace
and below, the bell tower of the Frauenkirche); to the
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the Dresden right, the steeple and nave of the Catholic Hofkirche, the
painter Christian Gottlieb Hammer (1779-1864) depicted castle tower (the tallest city edifice), and the steeple of
his city from a particularly attractive perspective. From the Kreuzkirche in the background.
the confluence of the Weisseritz and Elbe Rivers, he had
a view of both parts of the city: to the left, the Japanese
Palace (home of the Dresden Court Library since 1786),
1755.
Illustrations
82.
Illustrations
3 6. Item 174
Family Album of Johann Gottlieb Schwender. 1795-1810. Between friends and acquaintances it was common to ask
for, and have entered into these books, thoughtful sayings,
View from the Elbe Bridge toward the eastern often in combination with paintings, drawings, and even
part of the city. embroidery, since women also eagerly participated in this
Family albums (Stammbucher) provide remarkable insights custom. The specimen on display, from around 1800,
into the emotional lives of our ancestors. Known since the belonged to a Dresden construction official. His friends
sixteenth century and originally popular primarily among and acquaintances were in large part architects and artists.
the nobility, intellectuals, and students, these books evolved For this reason, some of the drawings are of high quality,
in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries into the such as the view from the Elbe Bridge.
“monuments to friendship” common in all social classes.
Illustrations
86.
-1 \ ^ | 1 r- \ 1
15s te?
^- ,y —
—^TTT-
* v" *-'■ -- U > u
|. ^
Holty. Lied fur eine Singstimme und Klavier, op. 49,2. had never met, including a draft leaf by Beethoven. A late
(To a Violet. Lyrics by Ludwig Holty. Song for Voice addition to the album is the autograph score by Johannes
and Piano, opus 49.2.) Before 1872. Brahms, who as a youth of twenty was taken into the inner
circle of the family and enthusiastically encouraged in com¬
posing by Robert. According to Clara’s notation in the
Manuscript, final copy.
On 13 June 1845, soon after the birth of their third daughter upper righthand corner of page 1, Brahms presented her the
on 11 March, Robert and Clara Schumann began an album final copy of his 1868 song (Opus 49.2), on ornamental
in Dresden “to our chddren for faithful safekeeping. paper, on 13 September 1872, her birthday. It was unsigned,
It held memorabilia (locks of hair, drawings, dried flowers, so Clara later added his name as well (at the end of the
poems, compositions, letters) from their closest friends and manuscript, on page 4). In 1934 the Saxon State Library
relatives. Later, particularly after Roberts death, Clara acquired this Dresden album from Schumann’s grandsons.
Illustrations
40 . Item 182
Falnameh. Persia. End of the sixteenth century. business deal. It is not known how this precious manuscript
Muhammad splits the moon. came into the possession of the library; a note in it indi¬
cates that the manuscript came to Vienna around 1700
In 1831, when Leipzig orientalist Heinrich Fleischer pub¬ during the Turkish wars. The varying styles of painting,
lished his catalog of oriental manuscripts in the Royal artistic quality, format, and design of the text suggest that
Public Library, he included a falnameh, a Persian book the manuscript was compiled from leaves of various
of prophesies. Such books were used to predict the future, origin, probably based in part on Persian models in Turkey.
for example, the course of a journey or the success of a It can be dated to the second half of the sixteenth century.
Latin Gospel passage used in Catholic Mass. fortune. (Of Remedies for fortune Fair and Foul.) France,
mid-fifteenth century. 206 leaves. Vellum. 41 x 29 cm.
2. See figure 1. A: Leaves 14b-! 5a
Machsor mechol haschana. (Jewish Holy Day Prayer Book Francesco Petrarca and a disciple at home.
for the Whole Year.) Germany, c. 1290. 293 leaves. Vellum.
55 x 46 cm. 7-
a: Leaves 59b-6oa Annales Veterocellenses, with continuation to the
Moses receives the Ten Commandments. year 1493. (Annals of Altzella.) Germany, end of fifteenth
century. 32 leaves. 32.5 x 22.5 cm.
3- a: Leaves 4b—5a
Bernardus Guidonis: De regibus Lrancorum. (About the Manuscript from Altzella, the most important medieval
Kings of the Lranks.) Erance, fourteenth century. 30 leaves. cloister in the margraviate of Meissen.
Vellum. 28 x 22 cm.
a: Leaves i9b-2oa 8. See figure 4.
Genealogy of the French kings from the fifth to the Boccaccio, Giovanni: Des cas des nobles hommes
fourteenth century. et femmes. (Of the Fate of Illustrious Men and Women.)
France, c. 1520. Vol. 2. 94 leaves. Vellum. 51 x 37 cm.
4- a: Leaves ib—2a
Ovid: Metamorphoseon libri XV. (The Fifteen Books of Boccaccio and his audience.
A fifieenth century chronicle of France, by the Example of the musical usage of the Church in central
Benedictine monk Jean Chartier. Germany shortly before the Reformation.
(The Performance of Music.) Milan, 1496. 111 leaves. Episcopi vita. (The Life of Saint Benno, Former Bishop
Vellum. 27.5 x 19 cm. of Meissen.) Leipzig, 1512. 17 leaves. 30 x 20 cm.
a: Beginning of the first book a: Title page
Danse macabre. (Dance of Death.) Troyes, after 1500. Portrait of Elector Friedrich the Wise.
40 leaves. 26 x 19.5 cm.
a: Leaves a ii-a iii 20.
Old French Dance of Death poem, with colored woodcuts. Luther, Martin: Von der Freiheit eines
46 leaves. 49 x 33 cm. der Kirche. (On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church.)
A: Leaves 24b-25a Wittenberg, 1520. 71 leaves. 21 x 15.5 cm.
The crucifiction by Albrecht Durer. a: Title page, with portrait of the Reformer
Nation. Von des christlichen Standes Besserung. (To the rauberischen Rotten der Bauern. (Against the Murdering
Christian Nobility of the German Nation. On the and Robbing Gangs of Farmers.) Wittenberg, 1525.
Reformation of the Christian Class.) Wittenberg, 1520. 4 leaves. 20 x 15 cm.
35 leaves. 21 x 15.5 cm. A: Title page
How to Handle Ecclesiastical Property.) Wittenberg, Gottesdienstes. (German Masses and Order of the Worship
1523. 12 leaves. 20 x 15.5 cm. Service.) Wittenberg, 1526. 24 leaves. 18 x 14 cm.
a: Title page a: Title page
On the use of Church property for schools and caring Renewal of the worship service.
for the poor.
30.
25. Luther, Martin: Trostschrift an die Christen zu Halle.
Luther, Martin: An die Ratsherren aller Stadte deutsches Eigenhandiges Manuskript. (Consolation for the Christians
Landes: daE sie christliche Schulen aufrichten und halten of Halle. Autograph manuscript.) Wittenberg, 1527.
sollen. (Call to the Councilmen of All Cities of Germany 62 leaves. 21 x 16 cm.
to Erect and Maintain Christian Schools.) Wittenberg, a: Leaf na
a: Title page
und Haufen der Bauern. (Act, Articles and Instruction Printed copy of the manuscript shown as item 30.
Twelve articles by the Swabian peasants made during Catechism.) Wittenberg, 1530. 75 leaves. 19 x 15.5 cm.
34. See figure 8. The Apocalypse of Saint John, with 72 miniatures from
Luther, Martin: Autograph letter to Duchess Katharina a Lotharingian scriptorium.
of Saxony. Wittenberg, 28 July 1539. 1 leaf. 33 x 21.5 cm.
a: Autograph letter 40.
Letter from Luther to Duchess Katharina of Saxony. The New Testament in the English Translation by John
Wycliffe. England, beginning of fifteenth century.
of Saxony.) Wittenberg, 1570. 11 leaves. 20 x 15.5 cm. John Wyclijfe (c. 1528—84) translated the Bible into
a: Portrait of Elector Johann Friedrich the colloquial English.
Magnanimous
Luther’s regent and a defender of the Reformation. 41.
Deutsche Historienbibel. (German Historical Bible.)
36. Germany, beginning of fifteenth century. 282 leaves.
Melanchthon, Philipp: Autograph letter to Nikolaus 42 x 32.5 cm.
von Amsdorf. 23 September 1546. 1 leaf. 32 x 21.5 cm. a: Pages 138-139
Melanchthon (1497-1560) and Amsdorf (1485-1565) were Popular treatment of biblical texts.
Luther’s closest colleagues.
42.
37- Biblia. Mit Glossen nach den Postillen des Nicolaus von
Spangenberg, Johann: Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch. Lyra. Niederdeutsch. (The Bible. With commentaries
(Protestant Hymnal.) Magdeburg, 1545. 718 leaves. based on the Postillae of Nicholas of Lyra. Low German.)
33 x 24 cm. Cologne, c. 1478. 514 leaves. 37 x 29 cm.
a: Pages 532-533 a: Job/Proverbs
Earliest and most important collection of liturgical Early Low German printing of the Bible by Heinrich
music for the Protestant religious service. Quentell, with 125 colored woodcuts.
a: Leaves iio-m, Beginning of the Gospel of Matthew John Eliot’s Indian language Bible.
Translation by Erasmus of the original Greek text.
Luther translated the New Testament from this.
The Electoral Library
46.
Das Neue Testament deutsch. In der Ubersetzung 52. See figure 11.
von Martin Luther. (The New Testament in German. Biblia Germanico-Latina. (German-Latin Bible.)
Translated by Martin Luther.) Wittenberg, 1522. Wittenberg, 1565. 162 leaves. Printed on vellum. 21 x 15.5 cm.
203 leaves. 29 x 20.5 cm. a: Portrait of Elector Augustus
in German. Translated by Martin Luther.) Wittenberg, The handwritten catalog lists 2,354 works from all
Biblia, das ist die ganze Heilige Schrift deutsch. a: Pages 152-53
(The Bible, That Is, the Entire Holy Scripture in German.) First comprehensive treatise on the mining industry.
artist Virgil Solis (1514—1568). Dresden, 1583. 301 leaves. 37 x 27.5 cm.
a: Pages 70-71
Luneburg, 1665. 302, 198, 160 leaves. 43.5 x 30.5 cm. Kentmann, Johannes: Krauterbuch. (Book of Herbs.)
Artistically the most splendid Bible of the baroque era. a: Leaves i46b-47a
63.
Ortung der Reise von Miihlberg bis Regensburg. Fine Renaissance Bindings
(Itinerary of the Journey from Miihlberg to Regensburg.)
1:575. Vellum scroll. 11 x 1380 cm. 70. See figure 19.
Elector Augustus’s route for his trip to the Reichstag in Division Tables, c. 1570. Part 2. 1,000 tables. 16 x 21 cm.
Regensburg in the fall ofiyyy.
71. See figure 20.
Paul, Simon: Postilla. Magdeburg, 1572. 512 leaves.
17 x 11 cm.
Abendmahl. (From the Last Supper.) Uelzen, 1575. Lied. (From the Signs of the Day a Beautiful Song.)
211 leaves. 17 x 11 cm. Text by Erasmus Albe. 1548. Folding sheet. 18.5 x 15 cm.
Calf binding by Jakob Krause with Moorish a: Pages 2-3
Deluxe edition by Jakob Krause with the coat of arms Processions.) Dresden, 1581. 2 leaves. Gouache painting.
of the electorate of Saxony. 34 x 48 cm.
The court trumpeters were the highest ranking musicians
74. See figure 21. in Germany, since Elector August occupied the position
Betbiichlein fur allerlei Anliegen. (Small Prayer Book of grand marshal.
for All Occasions.) c. 1580. 131 leaves. 21 x 20 cm.
80. See figure 22.
Miltitz, Nicol von, and Georg Rudolf Marschalk: und anderer Ritterspiele auf Christians fiirstlichem Beilager
Rofiarznei-Buch. (Equine Veterinary Book.) Dresden, 1589. am 25. April Anno [15]82 in Dresden. (Contrafactum
225 leaves. Vellum. 33 x 23 cm. of the Ring Competition and Other Knightly Games at
Gilt cordovan binding by Caspar Meuser, with the Princely Consummation of Christian’s Marriage on
silver clasps. April 25 of the Year [15)82 in Dresden.) Dresden, c. 1582.
67 leaves. 25.5 x 55.5 cm.
and Brandenburg coats of arms. redivivi ... relatio historica. (Historical Account of the
Easter Joy of the Resurrected Jesus Christ.) Edited
and published by Samuel Besler. Breslau, 1612. 22 leaves.
Elector Moritz (1521-53), founder of the Hofkapelle. (German Magnificat.) Tenor part book. Dresden, 1583.
134 leaves. 15 x 20 cm.
A: Page 2, with a portrait of the composer
a: Pages 12-13 Text edition with eight scene designs and two
At the head of the score is a notation: Sig. Vicentius interior views of the opera house erected by Wolf Caspar
Albrici. S(erenissimi): E(lectoris): S(axoniae): C(apellae): von Klengel.
M(agister).
88.
84. Dedekind, Constantin Christian: Aelbianische
Nauwach, Johann: Erster Teil Deutscher Villanellen Musenlust, in unterschiedlicher beriihmter Poeten
mit 1, 2 und 3 Stimmen, auf die Tiorba, Laute, auserlesenen, mit anmutigen Melodien beseelten, Lust-,
Clavicymbel und andere Instrumente gerichtet. (First Part Ehren-, Zucht- und Tugendliedern. (Albion Fancy of
of German Villanellas, with 1, 2, and 3 voices; with the Muses, in Songs of Merriment, Honor, Discipline
accompaniment for a theorbo, lute, harpsichord, and other and Virtue. Selected from Various Famous Poets and
instruments.) Dresden, 1627. 23 leaves. 28 x 18 cm. Animated by Charming Melodies.) Dresden, 1657.
a: Title page 205 leaves. 15.5 x 18.5 cm.
Rarity from the earliest collections of the Music a: Engraved title page
Department of the Saxon State Library, with presentation Presumably the only complete copy of the collected songs of
inscription to Elector Johann Georg I. the Dresden virtuoso concertmaster, Constantin Dedekind.
85.
Schutz, Heinrich: Konigs und Propheten David Twilight of a Century
Hundertneunzehnter Psalm. (The 119th Psalm of David,
the King and Prophet.) Manuscript part for Cantus 1; with 89. See figure 23.
printed title page. Dresden, 1671. 20 leaves. 27.5 x 19.5 cm. Collection of Portraits of the Counts of Saxony.
a: Title page Seventeenth century. 52 miniatures on vellum. 47 x 29 cm.
A vocal score from the only source collecting the last works a: Leaf 48
(The Most Serene Meeting.) Nuremberg, 1680. Engraving. Kirchenkantate fur Soli, Chor und Instrumente.
37 x 120 cm. Stimmenmaterial von der Hand Johann Gottfried Schichts.
a: Plate 2, page 20 27 Stimmen. (Whatever God Does Is Well Done. Church
Procession of citizens through Wilsdrujfer Street, from Cantata for Solo, Choir, and Instruments. Vocal material
the Old Marketplace to Wilis Gate in Dresden. from the hand of Johann Gottfried Schicht. 27 parts.)
End of eighteenth to beginning of nineteenth century.
94. 33 leaves. 31 x 23 cm.
Schein, Johann Hermann: Allegrezza sprirituale ... auf a: All vocals broken down into parts
das Jubelfest der Evangelischen Lutherischen Kirchen. Mit A work by Kuhnau, J. S. Bach’s predecessor, transcribed
acht Stimmen samt Generalbass. Stimme Basso continuo. by Bach’s fifth successor, Schicht.
(Allegrezza spirituale ... at the Jubilee Celebration of
the Protestant Lutheran Churches. In eight vocal parts 98.
with bass continuo. Bass continuo part.) Leipzig, 1617. Corpus iuris Saxonici. (Electoral Saxon Ordinances,
86 leaves. 31 x 20 cm. Constitutions, Mandates, Patents, and Rights.) Dresden,
a: Title page 1673. 34 x 22.5 cm.
Celebratory motet by the cantor of the St. Thomas A: Title page
Church of Leipzig, on the hundredth anniversary of the The first printed collection of the laws of the
circulation of Luther’s theses in Wittenberg. state of Saxony.
vocibus. (Who Is He Who Comes from Edom. Dialogue 1660. 1,392 pages, 8 leaves. 20 x 18.5 cm.
Suited for an Easter Celebration, for 15, 20, 30 voices.) a: Pages 604-605
Copyist score by Samuel Jacobi. 1676. 14 leaves. First year’s issues of the oldest German daily newspaper.
31.5 x 19.5 cm.
a: Cover and page 1 100.
An important work by the cantor of the St. Thomas Acta eruditorum. (Activities of Scholars.) Year 1. Leipzig,
Stimmen, geschrieben v. Samuel Jacobi. (I Live and You Von SchieEen und Feuerwerk (Biichsenmeisterei).
Shall Also Live. Sacred Concert for Solo Bass and (On Shooting and Fireworks.) Seventeenth century.
Instruments. Ten parts; written by Samuel Jacobi.) 140 pages, 63 leaves. 20 x 18.5 cm.
Church in Leipzig survive today only in the Saxon Propheten, Apokryphen und Neues Testament. Ubersetzt
Biblia. Ubersetzt von Martin Luther. (The Bible. Poppelmann, Matthaus Daniel: Ehrentempel zum Fest
Translated by Martin Luther.) Nuremberg, 1652. 416 pages, des 49. Geburtstages Friedrich August I. (Pantheon for the
Prayer book of Elector fohann Georg I. musica in 3. Atti, Band 3. Abschrift (unvollendet). (Flavio
Crispo. Musical drama in three acts, Vol. 3. Copyists manu¬
script (incomplete).) Dresden, 1720. 84 leaves. 26 x 31 cm.
The Augustan Era a: Pages 134-13 5
107. 114.
Friedrich August I, Elector of Saxony and King Pisendel, Johann Georg: First Movement of a Violin
of Poland: Letter to Count-Palatine of Livonia Karlsbad, Concerto, with corrections in Vivaldi’s Hand. Autograph
12 June 1717. 2 leaves. 23 x 17.5 cm. score. Venice, c. 1717. 5 leaves. 23 x 31.5 cm.
To majordomo fosefKos, tutor of the crown prince. a: Page 6
109. See figure 26. von Sachsen und Polen. (Requiem for Frederik Augustus I
Poppelmann, Matthaus Daniel: Entwurf fur einen of Saxony and Poland.) Autograph score. Dresden, 1733.
Zwingerpavillon. (Draft for a Zwinger pavilion.) Dresden, 7 leaves (1 fascicle). 35.5 x 23.5 cm.
1712-13. Colored sketch. 41.5 x 28 cm. a: Page 1
Splendid documentation of the abilities of the Hofkapelle
at that time.
franzdsischer Tabulaturschrift. (Compositions for Lute Church.) Eighteenth century. Engraving. 40 x 50 cm.
in French Tablature.) Vol. 6. Title in composer’s hand.
1731. 35 leaves. 25 x 33 cm. 122.
Autograph manuscript of the most significant Court.) Eighteenth century. Engraving. 40 x 50 cm.
lutist of the time. View of the pavilions where the Electoral Library
was located from 1728 to 1786.
117. See figure 2y.
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Missa (h moll: Kyrie und 123. See figure 28.
Gloria). Originaler Stimmensatz. (Mass in B Minor: Kyrie Merian, Maria Sibylla: Metamorphosis insectorum
and Gloria. Original Vocal Part.) Leipzig, 1733. 2 leaves. Surinamensium. (Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam.)
40 x 30 cm. Amsterdam, 1705. 2, 60 pages, 60 plates. 58 x 44 cm.
a: Bass voice (composer’s autograph) a: Figure 46
Manuscript score.
124.
Harrer, Johann Gottlieb: Missa in D. (Mass in D.) Amsterdam, 1726. 552 pages. 18 x 11 cm.
Autograph score. Dresden, 1738. 88 leaves. 33.5 x 16.5 cm. a: Title page
a: Pages 156-157, with corrections by Zelenka Chief work of this philosopher and versatile scholar
Harrer was Bach’s successor as cantor of the St. Thomas who was born in Leipzig.
Church in Leipzig, and was previously in the service
of Count Briihl in Dresden. 125.
in 3 Atti. (Ipermestra. Musical drama in three acts.) Text Military compendium by Count Moritz of Saxony,
by Pietro Metastasio. Copy of the score with autograph son of August the Strong and Countess Aurora
additions and corrections. Dresden, c. 1745-50. 177 leaves. of Konigsmark.
22.5 x 31 cm.
a: Pages 122-123 126.
The unperformed intermediate version between the 1744 Barre, R: Histoire general e d’Allemagne. (General
Vienna performance and the 1751 Dresden performance. Flistory of Germany.). Vol. 8. Paris, 1748. Pages 785-1128,
pages 1-344, 24 leaves. 30 x 23.5 cm.
120. a: v. 8, cover
Maria Antonia Walpurgis, Electoress of Saxony: Morocco binding with the supralibros of Friedrich
II Trionfo della fedelta. Dramma per musica in 3 Atti. August II, Polish king and elector of Saxony (1696—1763).
(The Triumph of Fidelity. Musical drama in three acts.)
Lyrics by the composer. 127.
a) Copyist’s score. Vol. 2. Dresden, mid-eighteenth century. Heraldic Description of the Coat of Arms of the Elector of
64 leaves. 23 x 30.5 cm. Saxony. Eighteenth century. 13 plates, 27 leaves. 21 x 17.5 cm.
and oboe (autograph). Dresden, mid-eighteenth century. Gouache drawing and written description.
2 leaves. 24 x 32 cm.
a: Pages 106-107; page 2
Bunau, Heinrich von: Deutsche Kaiser- und Zinzendorf, Graf Nikolaus Ludwig von:
Reichshistorie. (History of the German Emperors and Autograph manuscript of his “Theologische Bedenken.”
of the German Empire.) Vol. i. Leipzig, 1728. (Theological Reflections.) Herrnhut, 13 January 1733.
was incorporated into the electoral collection in 1764. The Daily Recitations of the Moravian Church for the
Year 1776. Barby, 1775. 76 leaves. 18 x 11 cm.
130. First edition of the Moravians’ recitations with
Grofles vollstandiges Universal-Lexikon (Great Complete instructional texts.
Universal Encyclopedia.) Vol. 27. Leipzig, Halle, 1741.
5 leaves, 2,246 columns. 35 x 23 cm.
a: Frontispiece, title page The Frauenkirche
Map of Dresden.) 1755. Colored engraving. 61 x 75 cm. Szene fur Mannerstimmen und grofles Orchester. (The
The fortress-like character of both parts of the city Love Feast of the Apostles. Biblical Scene for Male Voices
can be seen. and Large Orchestra.) Autograph score. Dresden, 1843.
31 leaves. 34 x 27 cm.
Reinhold, Friedrich Johann Christian: Uniformen Dresden. Japanese Palace. 1795. Watercolor drawing.
der kurfurstlich sachsischen Armee. (Uniforms of the Army 55 x 80 cm.
of the Electorate of Saxony.) 1791. 31 leaves. 15.4 x 23 cm. Location of the Royal Library from iy86 to 1943, built by
a: Leaf 15 (26) the famous architect Matthaus Daniel Poppelmann.
Illustrations of the Elector’s army.
149.
Dresden. Panoramic View from the Cupola of the Leipzig, 1781. Collection: 32, 222, 130, 96, 108, 127 pages.
Frauenkirche. 1824. Colored lithograph. 62 x 60 cm. 18 x 11 cm.
“Fish-eye” view of Dresden. a: Title page
150.
143. See figure 32. Schiller, Friedrich von: Autograph Letter to Christian
Dresden. View of the City from the Southwest. End Korner. Rudolstadt, 1 September 1788. 2 leaves.
of eighteenth century. Colored engraving. 66 x 81 cm. This letter from Schiller to Korner discusses personal
and aesthetic matters.
144. See figure 33.
Winckelmann, Johann Joachim: Gedanken iiber die 151.
Nachahmung der griechischen Werke. (Thoughts on the Hiller, Johann Adam: Die Liebe auf dem Lande.
Imitation of Greek Works.) Friedrichstadt near Dresden, Singspiel in 3 Akten. (Love in the Country. Singspiel in
1755. 40 pages, 4 leaves. 25 x 21.5 cm. three acts.) Autograph score, fair copy. Leipzig, c. 1768.
a: Title page 125 leaves. 20 x 26 cm.
A pioneering essay in the establishment of modern a: Pages 28-29
scientific archaeology and art history. Hiller was the cantor of the St. Thomas Church
in Leipzig, a versatile musical organizer and writer
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von: Die Leiden des jungen Autograph score. Vol. 2. Stockholm, 1782-83.
Werthers. (The Sorrows of Young Werther.) Leipzig, 1774. 97 leaves. 24.5 x 34 cm.
Gli Amanti folletti. Dramma buffo in due Atti. (The Lover Schlofi Pillnitz. (Pillnitz Castle.) c. 1800. Colored
Imps. Comic opera in two acts.) Libretto. Fair copy, with engraving. 37 x 47 cm.
autograph corrections by Prince Anton of Saxony. Dresden, Summer residence of the House ofWettin since the
c. 1793. 41 leaves. 24.5 x 18 cm. eighteenth century.
a: Leaves I2b-i3a
This opera, performed in Dresden, was compiled from 159. See figure 55.
various works by Mozart. Plantae selectae vivis coloribus depictae. (Selected Plants
Shown in True-to-Life Colors.) Centuria 1. 1785-95.
154. 100 leaves. 53 x 40 cm.
Paer, Ferdinando: L’Amante servitor. Dramma giocoso A: Plate 22
per musica in 2 atti. (The Servant Lover. Comic opera One of hundreds of plants grown st Pillnitz castle.
in two acts.) Autograph score of the opening symphony.
Venice, 1796 (or Dresden, after 1801). 20 leaves. 160.
155- 161.
Ebert, Friedrich Adolf: The First Subject Catalog Weber, Carl Marla von: Jubel-Ouverture. Zur Feier des
“Musik” of the Royal Public Library in Dresden. 50 jahrigen Regierungsantritts Sr. Maj. des Konigs von
Autograph fair copy. Dresden, 1816. 89 leaves. 33.5 x 21 cm. Sachsen d. 20. September 1818 (Overture of Jubilation. For
a: Pages 14-15 the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Reign
The first catalog “Musik” of the Royal Public Library of His Majesty the King of Saxony on 20 September 1818.)
was established. Autograph score. 1818. 14 leaves. 23.5 x 32.5 cm.
A: Title page
Paris, 1636-37. 782 pages, 2 leaves. 36 x 23 cm. Morlacci, Francesco: Elegia (fur Klavier). (Elegies for
a: Main title and table of contents Piano.) Manuscript. Dresden, 1840. 2 leaves. 31.5 x 23.5 cm.
One of the earliest acquisitions of the Music Department; a: Pages 2—3
with detailed table of contents by Chief Librarian Only known piano composition by the last Italian court
Friedrich Adolf Ebert. musical director.
163.
157- 26 x 20 cm.
Tibullus, Albius: Elegiarum libri quatuor. (Four Books a: Pages 18-19
of Elegies.) Venice, 1520. 179 leaves. 31 x 22 cm. Temple of the Muses, with a bust of the poet Wieland.
a: Cover
171-
165. Portrait of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). 1855.
Schlegel, August Wilhelm: Autograph translation Lithograph. 40 x 32.5 cm.
of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. c. 1805. 54 leaves. This great, if enigmatic, German philosopher later
23 x 18.5 cm. influenced Nietzche and Freud.
a: Leaves 39b-4oa
Athenaeum. Edited by August Wilhelm Schlegel and The most important work by the eminent German
Friedrich Schlegel. Vol. 1. Berlin, 1798. iv, 177, 178 pages. philosopher written during his stay in Dresden.
21 x 12.5 cm.
a: Title page 173-
The journal of the early German Romantic movement. Graenicher, J. A.: Kostiime in Sachsen. (Traditional
Novalis (Friedrich von Hardenberg): Schriften. Depiction of a Wendish peasant in festive dress, a member
(Works.) Edited by Friedrich Schlegel and Ludwig Tieck. of a Slavic minority that still lives in Saxony.
Berlin, 1802. 2 vols. xii, 338 p.; 552 p. 15.5 x 10 cm.
A: Title page 174. See figure 36.
Novalis (1//2-1801) is the most significant poet Family Album of Johann Gottlieb Schwender. 1795-1810.
a: Title page and frontispiece (February). 1809-24. 776 leaves. 11.5 x 40 cm.
A Dresden journal of the Romantic period. a: Leaves 3ob-3ia, watercolor and script
104-
Buddhist Legends. Japan, nineteenth century. 24 leaves.
178. See figure 48. 23.5 x 17.5 cm.
Schumann, Robert: Des Sennen Abschied. (Senn’s Manuscript in the Hiragana syllabary.
Farewell.) Lyrics by Friedrich Schiller. No. 22 from
Songs for the Young, Opus 79. Autograph. Dresden, 18 6.
undated. 1 leaf. 27 x 19.5 cm. Palmleaf Book. Java. 65 leaves. 25 x 43 cm.
A testimony to Schumanns creativity but also Inscribed palm leaf and root.
a historical account.
187.
179. See figure 99. Astrological Almanach. China, nineteenth century.
Brahms, Johannes: An ein Veilchen. Text von Ludwig 59 leaves. 20.5 x 22 cm.
Holty. Liedfiiir eine Singstimme und Klavier, op. 49,2. “The standard work fit for a hundred purposes. ”
(To a Violet. Lyrics by Ludwig Holty. Song for Voice and
Piano, opus 49.2.) Autograph fair copy. Before 1872. 188.
2 leaves. 21.5 x 29 cm. After Zacharais Wehme. A Portrait of Elector Augustus.
From a personal album kept by the Schumann family. 1586. Oil on canvas.
A copy from the end of the nineteenth century of an
180. original portrait of1986, by Zacharais Wehme (1998-1606).
Richter, Adrian Ludwig: Autograph Letter to
Hugo Biirkner. Loschwitz, 4 July 1864. 2 leaves, wrapper. 189.
22 x 14.5 cm. Theobald von Oer: Winckelmann in der Nothnitzer
Richter (1804—84), who lived most of his life in Dresden, Bibliothek. (Winckelmann in the Nothnitz Library.) 1874.
was an important German Romantic painter. Oil on canvas.
An idealized group portrait, showing the archaeologist-
181. art historian Johann Winckelmann discoursing on an
Richter, Adrian Ludwig: Der Sonntag in Bildern. antique head before a group of great figures such as
(Sunday in Pictures.) Dresden, 1861. 10 plates. 35 x 27.5 cm. Lessing and Canaletto, 1894. Depicted are Winckelmanns
A: “Visit to the Country” friends and contemporaries, who were never together in
Nothnitz. From left to right: Archinto, Biinau, Francke,
Algarotti, Rabener, Lessing, Winckelmann, Hagedorn,
From Faraway Lands Oeser, Heyne, Lippert, Canaletto, and Dietrich.
ISBN 0-8444-0925-1
90000
9 780844 409252
I
c
. \P* .CA ^ *t * * A A
tAr **,A PA‘ '1'' '%\ ‘ oAPPt -°o >V
A °4l«» ■yP « ' -w •»*.
*i.n *
o <^>rjx>
y>+ ^P'V '<msr»* -.
^ c A — >
<P <4-*
,~t>
V ^
V-V - RSvWM r,
\ C>
tocp
-
u
Vaa fan* °Z £J|||r ^IPp! z
.“ A?\ °of|ffi <P\ ,^*rc <
*^o * k*4 A «'* A -A
l,VV PatvC pA;pv** rt <■ ^1 b * A.
j * ^ V :0t>\ CQP o*
?V*1° P%*. _
* *, V^°n°° * ofi\*"-' °^°s, * - ^VONO° 6 ^V4'9'1* v
j. Y o' ^9*'" to y- V
^OV O‘• Ibm?1
/gfe,'-%..
a '^*C;^ ° Y.Y
'<rvV. /i- 0~o< » OY 0
s «y oQ _
► V^\, »o,°4>
T> *»«•» ^ -3
<0 ^ ^ <
; Vt iV* W
.. / ^ ♦,^p*
*; tv\ \Wt /'VM\< \f#l* /’\a-
• • ** / c.. c ,;v * • !>y •‘".V'1‘ d^o..,;v • • y.
A * yV o°tsr*‘A
- * to O° ^ V n
ttr^ 0 5\YSik!l * YDY
• - {x
/J& % ^ /Jfe *
? cTSlM6 *, •° \/
V fUja; y^' ;Mh.-o
:mm\ %„,<?;
3t<
r f tvt? \mt* J''% %«*Pf ^&X \w/ /\ %W/ tv\°^
„ /■ -• ,- T
X)Y <■
y°Ck
Y/>.J> P'&Muv^<» ^ <y~y
w,
<i i> ^ JA> * 9n » ' o * vON°°
V-’ ^ • -°V- ->°" * * rS,W°>S' * «*\ '■ . 0>v ^ <«r
* -- * -’■jAV/k'f t<- /.*/*C' Y. a >Vy^ Y j!
r 1
cYto
** /\ %
-o^ Y
rO5*.00"0**
o ^ > v**
% ^svi>5^
pc * ” ’/i^pc.' 14s^c
Y0Z
v>
YY \'%mi; *py, :#©= ^ -•w^.,- <c - •;-«#/»,
' O '*', ^ZuW -j- n j> "P r> ^ *f O ^“i -f t^Yyjs5’ * V p ^ t~zAZl/J^’ ❖
? -Z 0,WD
’ ° s>3t
* aV <yA
■&
*
o>
^ ° ^/vS^VW\WV. •/ o o
■«»• <- tv
,X /V^ •? rO
■ /.* >V “*•& ° • V„‘°4>V ‘ ' V>“ ‘'••v° • ‘>3
•* *- % <-° 4 >r o - ^ -
3 ■>b0 • . 3-c? »
iw*. « 'fm^C * ao ° O.V « ><*%& «■ ‘^O’ w«i
■£*» •a ^ V* r\ * *y
& O
yQ
❖
A <y> * o
**\ *r v'‘ ^^s^rs~> -**” T
4°,
V*r
* , „f\ ^ :■*]
•nV,9no,^,,A**"1
> ,c>. o * . * »„ o W> -4o'.
> <>.
O’
c V
.'“Ot\^n "
v° Vo;:o*y °o.v
^ * jAW4 o ^ - Y>
3f> & <f
**&%&/!*.*o V
*
°z %# s Jr.: w --Mas
/ 3\ ° w|':br <i0\ *,
; '>v
^ VN' „'
2 z r V<^ a?
- \3;
^ ^ ^
<b
—
^ °»
9 L,*/<?/° * ^ 3°cong, *V* ^
* ^ ^>
^
v*0-00^^»rv^.n ^°?^3 ,/v"oN°vt^
'Sy 3
^
cfjJ'o
03 3 ^ °W$KW± v^ 0j3 * ™ ^
V). ^ 3os 3
w*,'% •- „.
cr 3o3v^y O *3^ ^
oO-.«\ /±Mjj0\ 14s$\
oV 0 O 0 ■» 03V » O vov
= ^°a. t €ms; ft
° ^C!t'- '03#,’ Oo\ -,m3° 4-%
^ > 4>9 3
HECKMAN
BINDERY INC.
P ; Vv ' i' " * ***** W - A; *
.' <$\ tl o 0y A