Scope and Contents
Many of the engravings, drawings, and miniature paintings in this collection are annotated in the hand of Johann Caspar Lavater (1741-1801). The style of some of the drawings, as well as the format of the material (for example, the way the illustrations are mounted and the style of the borders, both handmade and engraved) resemble two other manuscripts in the Speck Collection, Lavater's "Vermischte physiognomische Regeln" (YCGL MSS 6, vol. 819, from 1789) and his "Stufen" (YCGL MSS 6, vol. 820a-c). It would appear that at least some of the present material represents fragments and/or rejected portions from the process of creating collections similar to the two just named. Lavater's habit of assembling sets of aphorisms and emblematic illustrations for his family and friends is well known.
Of the dated items, almost all fall in the 1790s, the majority in the second half of that decade. The collection is organized into three series: Portraits, Other Artwork, and Other Papers. Portraits is organized into Potraits of Johann Caspar Lavater and Portraits of Others. Other Artwork is organized into eight subseries: Jacques Callot, Daneil Chodowiecki, Johann Heinrich Lips, Conrad Meyer, Pfenninger, del., George Friedrich Schmol, Various Artists, and Unidentified.
The artists most heavily represented among the signed engravings in the collection are Daniel Chodowiecki (1726-1801) and Johann Heinrich Lips (1758-1817), both major contributors to the work for which Lavater is best remembered, Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung des Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe. The collection includes a small portrait of Anna Barbara Schulthess (1745-1818), a friend of Goethe who preserved the manuscript of Wilhelm Meisters theatralische Sendung (the first version of Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre), not rediscovered and published until 1911 (folder 10). Other notable items include a silhouette of Katharina von Stolberg (1751-1832), sister of the poets Christian and Friedrich Leopold von Stolberg, and a self-portrait by the painter Johann Caspar Schinz (1797-1832), a pupil of Heinrich Lips (folders 11 and 6).
The collection was previously housed in a large box labeled "Lavater" that had been among the uncataloged holdings of the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana for several decades. Possibly the collection was not cataloged by earlier librarians because of the fragmentary nature of its contents. The provenance of the collection is uncertain, although it may have been part of the material, called simply "prints," purchased in 1926 from descendants of Lavater, Waldemar C. Hirschfeld (Yale certificate in architecture, 1903) and his brother Robert Lavater Hirschfeld, both then of Meriden, Connecticut. Later the Hirschfelds donated to the Speck Collection oil portraits of Lavater by Ilg and of Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener (1714-71) by Anton Graff. The exact relationship between Lavater and the Hirschfelds has not at this writing been determined. Their father was Henry Hirschfeld, one of four sons of a widow Hirschfeld who immigrated to the United States from Emmershausen around 1850. Heinrich Fussli's drawing of Mrs. Lavater's hands, now at the Beinecke Library, came from the Hirschfeld family as well; in 1926 it was described as still being in the possession of an unnamed aunt of Waldemar and Robert Hirschfeld.
Of the dated items, almost all fall in the 1790s, the majority in the second half of that decade. The collection is organized into three series: Portraits, Other Artwork, and Other Papers. Portraits is organized into Potraits of Johann Caspar Lavater and Portraits of Others. Other Artwork is organized into eight subseries: Jacques Callot, Daneil Chodowiecki, Johann Heinrich Lips, Conrad Meyer, Pfenninger, del., George Friedrich Schmol, Various Artists, and Unidentified.
The artists most heavily represented among the signed engravings in the collection are Daniel Chodowiecki (1726-1801) and Johann Heinrich Lips (1758-1817), both major contributors to the work for which Lavater is best remembered, Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung des Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe. The collection includes a small portrait of Anna Barbara Schulthess (1745-1818), a friend of Goethe who preserved the manuscript of Wilhelm Meisters theatralische Sendung (the first version of Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre), not rediscovered and published until 1911 (folder 10). Other notable items include a silhouette of Katharina von Stolberg (1751-1832), sister of the poets Christian and Friedrich Leopold von Stolberg, and a self-portrait by the painter Johann Caspar Schinz (1797-1832), a pupil of Heinrich Lips (folders 11 and 6).
The collection was previously housed in a large box labeled "Lavater" that had been among the uncataloged holdings of the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana for several decades. Possibly the collection was not cataloged by earlier librarians because of the fragmentary nature of its contents. The provenance of the collection is uncertain, although it may have been part of the material, called simply "prints," purchased in 1926 from descendants of Lavater, Waldemar C. Hirschfeld (Yale certificate in architecture, 1903) and his brother Robert Lavater Hirschfeld, both then of Meriden, Connecticut. Later the Hirschfelds donated to the Speck Collection oil portraits of Lavater by Ilg and of Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener (1714-71) by Anton Graff. The exact relationship between Lavater and the Hirschfelds has not at this writing been determined. Their father was Henry Hirschfeld, one of four sons of a widow Hirschfeld who immigrated to the United States from Emmershausen around 1850. Heinrich Fussli's drawing of Mrs. Lavater's hands, now at the Beinecke Library, came from the Hirschfeld family as well; in 1926 it was described as still being in the possession of an unnamed aunt of Waldemar and Robert Hirschfeld.
Dates
- 1775-1816
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Lavater Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The provenance of the collection is uncertain, although it may have been part of the material, called simply "prints," purchased in 1926 from descendants of Lavater, Waldemar C. Hirschfeld (Yale certificate in architecture, 1903) and his brother Robert Lavater Hirschfeld, both then of Meriden, Connecticut.
Extent
1.97 Linear Feet ((3 boxes) + 1 broadside folder)
Language of Materials
German
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Collection of engravings, drawings, silhouettes, and miniature paintings, many of them annotated in the hand of Johann Caspar Lavater. The artists most heavily represented among the signed works in the collection are Daniel Chodowiecki and Johann Heinrich Lips, both major contributors to Lavater's Physiognomische Fragmente.
JOHANN CASPAR LAVATER (1741-1801)
Johann Caspar Lavater was born in Zürich in 1741, the son of a physician. He trained as a clergyman and at the beginning of his career campaigned successfully against corruption in the government of the canton. Having made many local enemies during this controversy, he undertook a journey with his friend Heinrich Füssli through northern Germany, where he met several prominent authors and public figures. Upon his return to Switzerland, he became increasingly well known as an eloquent preacher, which led finally to his appointment as deacon (1778) and then pastor (1786) of St. Peter's Church in Zürich. His later years were overshadowed by political events. Because of his outspoken criticism of the government, he came under suspicion of collaboration with Russia and Austria and was arrested in May 1799 and deported to Basel. Released in June, he returned to Zürich where, in September, he was himself wounded while trying to help wounded soldiers during the occupation of the city by the French. His injuries resulted in a long and painful illness, of which he died on 2 January 1801.
Lavater's numerous published works include poems, prose works devoted to his emotional, pietistic brand of Christianity, and the famous Physiognomische Fragmente, published in four volumes between 1775 and 1778 and illustrated with many engravings. Lavater's friendship with Goethe began by letter in 1772. They first met in 1774, and, as is well known, Goethe made minor contributions to the Physiognomische Fragmente. The friendship cooled during the early 1780s as Goethe became alienated by Lavater's growing religious fanaticism.
Lavater's numerous published works include poems, prose works devoted to his emotional, pietistic brand of Christianity, and the famous Physiognomische Fragmente, published in four volumes between 1775 and 1778 and illustrated with many engravings. Lavater's friendship with Goethe began by letter in 1772. They first met in 1774, and, as is well known, Goethe made minor contributions to the Physiognomische Fragmente. The friendship cooled during the early 1780s as Goethe became alienated by Lavater's growing religious fanaticism.
- Title
- Guide to the Lavater Collection
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- November 2000
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.