Fraktur

Drawing

Drexel Founding Collection

#ADM.550, Photograph by Lynn (Clouser) Waddell 2013

Name/Title

Fraktur

Entry/Object ID

ADM.550

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Alma Dea Morani, Philadelphia

Notes

Date: 2003 Credit Line: Transferred from the Morani Art Gallery at the Medical College of Pennsylvania Means of Accession: Transfer Source: Accessioned by MAG 11/30/1993; Received 5/14/1992; Gift of Donna R. and Victor S. Mitchell, 1992; Gift to Donna Mitchell from Nelson A. Rockeller

Made/Created

Artist

Johann Friedrich Eyer

Date made

circa 1800

Place

State

Pennsylvania

Country

United States

Continent

North America

Dimensions

Height

4 in

Width

3-1/8 in

Dimension Notes

Unframed: 4x3 1/8 in; H, W, D: 8 5/8x6 7/8x7/8 in Framed; Unframed: 10.16x7.94 cm

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Label

Label

Fraktur is a type of illuminated folk art using watercolor and ink to decorate documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and blessings. This fraktur is by Johann Friedrch Eyer, c. 1800.

Label Type

Exhibition Label

Label

The Pennsylvania Germans used the art of fraktur to decorate their documents of important life events such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, writing samples, and blessings.

Label Type

Exhibition Label

Label

Flowers are a common feature in fraktur, with a favorite being tulips. The popularity of tulips can be traced back to the tulip mania in the Netherlands in 1637, when the newly introduced tulip became so popular that its prices were off the charts.