Religious Text with Spiritual Chimes for Elisabeth Geissinger1803Sheet: 12 7/8 x 15 7/8 "
Frame: 19 5/8 x 22 3/4 x 1 "Watercolor and ink on paperGift of Ralph Esmerian2005.8.420The central motif is a blue tall case clock with a bird drawn above the dial and a hex star and fans gracing the base. Twelve hearts flank the clock case each containing a prayer for an hour of the day. The top hearts have small heads erupting from between the lobes, each most likely representing one of the four apostles. At the bottom under the clock the fraktur is initialed EMM. These are most likely the maker's initials. To the right of the clock is an inscription commemorating the birth of Elizabeth Geissinger who was born March 22, 1754. At the top, the drawing is titled "Spiritual Chimes" and dated 1803, most likely the execution date (Wheatcroft) bird LS of clock. In red, green, blue, ochre, brown, and black.1545543397Artist unidentifiedBooks/Manuscripts/Information ArtifactsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain. Pennsylvania GermanElisabeth Geissinger 1754; "E.M.M. 1803" under clock see Weiser for translation of inscriptionUnited StatesPennsylvaniaWorks on PaperFraktur was a private art, an arrangement between a minister or schoolmaster and a particular family or family member. It was not typically displayed but was instead cherished for private contemplation. The spiritual dimensions of fraktur are expressed through the texts, which, more often than not, had little to do with the imagery. An exception is the imagery of the spiritual chimes, which specifically illustrates the metaphor of time referenced in the texts. This example was made for Elisabeth Geissinger shortly before her forty-ninth birthday, in 1803. The words provide prayers to be recited a seach hour chimed and correspond to the hour from “one thing needful” through the twelve prophets and apostles, and many evoke the passage of time and the hour of death. A last petition is provided that can be spoken at any time of the day.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Religious Text with Spiritual Chimes for Elisabeth Geissinger,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014. frakturFraktur was a private art, an arrangement between a minister or schoolmaster and a particular family or family member. It was not typically displayed but was instead cherished for private contemplation. The spiritual dimensions of fraktur are expressed through the texts, which, more often than not, had little to do with the imagery. An exception is the imagery of the spiritual chimes, which specifically illustrates the metaphor of time referenced in the texts. This example was made for Elisabeth Geissinger shortly before her forty-ninth birthday, in 1803. The words provide prayers to be recited a seach hour chimed and correspond to the hour from “one thing needful” through the twelve prophets and apostles, and many evoke the passage of time and the hour of death. A last petition is provided that can be spoken at any time of the day.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Religious Text with Spiritual Chimes for Elisabeth Geissinger,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org18031803 2005 8 42 Fraktur was a private art, an arrangement between a minister or schoolmaster and a particular family or family member. It was not typically displayed but was instead cherished for private contemplation. The spiritual dimensions of fraktur are expressed through the texts, which, more often than not, had little to do with the imagery. An exception is the imagery of the spiritual chimes, which specifically illustrates the metaphor of time referenced in the texts. This example was made for Elisabeth Geissinger shortly before her forty-ninth birthday, in 1803. The words provide prayers to be recited a seach hour chimed and correspond to the hour from “one thing needful” through the twelve prophets and apostles, and many evoke the passage of time and the hour of death. A last petition is provided that can be spoken at any time of the day.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Religious Text with Spiritual Chimes for Elisabeth Geissinger,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014. frakturFraktur was a private art, an arrangement between a minister or schoolmaster and a particular family or family member. It was not typically displayed but was instead cherished for private contemplation. The spiritual dimensions of fraktur are expressed through the texts, which, more often than not, had little to do with the imagery. An exception is the imagery of the spiritual chimes, which specifically illustrates the metaphor of time referenced in the texts. This example was made for Elisabeth Geissinger shortly before her forty-ninth birthday, in 1803. The words provide prayers to be recited a seach hour chimed and correspond to the hour from “one thing needful” through the twelve prophets and apostles, and many evoke the passage of time and the hour of death. A last petition is provided that can be spoken at any time of the day.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Religious Text with Spiritual Chimes for Elisabeth Geissinger,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org