Romanticism in Dresden: Following in the footsteps of Caspar David Friedrich in the city
The important landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich spent most of his life in Dresden. Tombstones were also created based on his designs and can be seen on guided tours.
Dörthe Schimke from the board of the Eliasfriedhof support association in front of the Ulrici tomb, which was created based on designs by Friedrich. © Photo: SZ/Kay Haufe
Dresden. Inspired by nature in Dresden and Saxon Switzerland, Caspar David Friedrich painted numerous pictures that are now world-famous, such as “The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog”. Dresden was the center of life for the painter, who was born in Greifswald in 1774, for over 40 years. His major works were created here, which are now considered the most important examples of German Romanticism worldwide.
The enthusiastic hiker Caspar David Friedrich was also on the island of Rügen, where his famous picture “The Chalk Cliffs on Rügen” was taken, as well as in the Giant Mountains and the Harz Mountains, as evidenced by numerous other pictures, such as “Village Landscape in Morning Light”.
During his lifetime, Friedrich’s pictures were considered too dark, he fell into oblivion and became impoverished. On May 10, 1840, the painter found his final resting place in the Trinity Cemetery. His widow Caroline Friedrich née Bommer had no financial resources available for a tomb, as can be seen from the publications of the Trinity Cemetery. The current grave complex was designed in 1934 at the suggestion of the Saxon Homeland Security and was restored and replanted last year thanks to the support of the Ilse Bähnert Foundation. A bench was placed next to it and a red oak tree was planted. One day visitors will linger in her shadow at the painter’s gravesite.
The event program begins in May
In order to draw attention to the painter and his traces in the city in the anniversary year, 2024, the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich’s birthday, the administration of the Elias, Trinity and St. John’s Cemetery, together with the Elias Cemetery Support Association and the Circle of Friends Trinity and St. John’s Cemetery has designed a special event program with 13 readings, concerts and lectures. This will also include a guided tour for children aged ten and over.
“Our cemeteries archive this romantic period in a special way,” says administrative manager Beatrice Teichmann. In the Elias Cemetery there are four tombs designed by Caspar David Friedrich, including the one for the lawyer and donor Christian Ernst Ulrici (1750-1825). That’s why there will be numerous thematic V here and in the other two cemeteriesevents and tours among other things, on the topics of restoration, enjoyment and rocks.
New plan shows resting places of Friedrich friends
In addition, the cemetery administration and the two associations have designed a new plan for the Elias and Trinity cemeteries, which provides information about the graves of important Dresden personalities from Caspar David Friedrich’s environment and the middle class. It is available for two euros from the cemetery administration and on the guided tours.
By selling unusual pin buttons and a bottle opener, all with motifs from individual Caspar David Friedrich paintings, the cemetery administration wants to raise money in order to be able to finance further projects. The special souvenirs are limited to 50 pieces per button and cost three euros each. The bottle opener is available in total 250 times and is available for five euros.
Beatrice Teichmann, the head of the cemetery administration of Elias, Trinitatis and Johannis cemeteries, shows the limited buttons and the bottle opener with the painter’s motifs. © Photo: SZ/Kay Haufe
Donations needed for gate renovation
This income is intended, among other things, for the restoration of the middle entrance gate to the Trinity Cemetery. The monumental gate with its two sandstone pillars inspired Caspar David Friedrich to paint “The Cemetery” in 1825. After 200 years, the gate is in serious need of renovation, especially due to corrosion damage. 97,000 euros are needed for the work, 15,000 euros of which must be raised by the cemetery administration. A big challenge, says Teichmann.
The 200-year-old entrance gate to the Trinity Cemetery inspired Caspar David Friedrich to create his painting “The Cemetery”. The sandstone pillars are decorated with butterflies, a symbol of transformation and new beginnings, also of resurrection. © Marion Doering
Anyone who would like to look at pictures by the painter will find what they are looking for in the Dresden State Art Collections, which has one of the largest collections of works by Caspar David Friedrich with 14 paintings and over 70 drawings. On August 24th of this year, an exhibition will open in the Albertinum with these and loaned items on display. On the same day, a show of his works opens in the Kupferstich-Kabinett.
2024-04-01 01:19:46
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