Birth and Baptismal Certificate for Alexander Danner

Dateca. 1800

Attributed to Christian Mertel (1739-1802)

MediumWatercolor, lead pencil, and ink on laid paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 12 1/2 x 15 5/8in. (31.8 x 39.7cm) and Framed: 14 1/2 x 16 5/8in.

Credit LineFrom the collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; gift of the Museum of Modern Art

Object number1935.305.1

DescriptionA certificate with yellow unicorns flanking the text, which is centered on the sheet. Lengths of chain wrap around the unicorns' bodies, and a line of guilloche-type ornament stretches horizontally between them, forming an upper border for the text below it. Above the text, a heart topped by a tulip is flanked by rampant lions; the heart encloses text. Tulips and other flowers fill the remaining spaces, including a large, fan-shaped bloom at center bottom. A wavy blue ground appears at the bottom.

The 1 1/2-inch, flat, black-painted frame is a modern replacement. See n. 3.
Label TextThe good condition of this brightly colored birth and baptismal certificate makes it an excellent example of Christian Mertel's work. Other, nearly identical unicorn frakturs of his survive, including birth and baptismal certificates for Anna Maria Schmit and Johannes Kellinger, both born in 1797 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Other formats prove the artist's versatility in combining a variety of motifs, such as architectural elements, human figures, mermaids, chained hearts, celestial bodies, and highly stylized angels, birds, and fish. By 1997, thirty-six works by Mertel were documented; probably more have come to light since then.

Mertel was long known as the "C. M. Artist," thanks to an initialed inscription on one of his pieces. In 1987, a New Year's Greeting bearing his full name was discovered; its inscription reads, in part: "Geschrieben von Christian Mertel als Schulmeister in Londonderry taunschip Dauphin caunty" [written by Christian Mertel as schoolmaster in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County].

Other facts of Mertel's life were soon revealed. He immigrated to America from Herborn, Germany, in 1773, describing himself as a "dyer" but, at some point, he abandoned that trade for teaching. In 1793, he acquired land in present-day Conewago Township, Dauphin County; he probably taught at a nearby community school. Mertel lived on his tract until his death in 1802. Among other household goods, the inventory of his estate included an "inckstand" and "one Box with pictures," the latter assuredly some of the frakturs he made for clientele spread over a large area to the south and east of his home.

InscribedThe handwritten ink inscriptions are in two hands; see n. 1. They read:
[within heart]: "Singet und spielet dem Herrn/in Eurem Hertzen.,"
[below heart]: "Diese Beÿde Ehegatten als Ullrich Danner und seine Ehliche hausfrau/Elisabeth eine Geborne Beckeren Ist ein sohn zur welt gebohren/als Alexander 1st zur welt gebohren im Jahr unsers Herrn 1804 [see n. 1] Den/3 ten Tag January um [blank] uhr des [blank] in zeichen der [blank]/Mithin Diese in den Gnadenbunt Gottes Einverleibet, und von Pfarrer [blank] Prediger/und Diener des worts gottes den 5 ten May Getaufft und genennet worden wie oben Ge-/-melt, oben gemeldete ist gebohren in America, in der provintz pensilvany, in Lancaster/Cauntÿ Hempfield Taunschip, Taufzeugen sind Ulrich Danner/und seine Ehefrau./Gott segne unser Eingang und ausgang, euer gepflügtes und gesätes, euer morgen und abend/opfer. Das die berge Euch den Frieden verküntigen, und die Hügel vor euch Frolocken./Dass Eure kinder aufwachsen wie die cedern in Libanon."

The English translation reads:
[within heart] "Sing and make melody to the Lord in your hearts" [Ephesians 5:19]
[below heart]: "To these two married people, namely Ullrich Danner and his lawful wife, Elisabeth, nee Beckeren, a son was born into the world, namely Alexander was born into the world in the year of our Lord 1804, the 3rd day of January at [blank] o'clock in the [blank] in the sign of [blank]. Whereupon he was engrafted into God's covenant of grace and baptized the 5th of May by Pastor [blank], preacher and servant of the Word of God and named as above stated. The above named was born in the province of Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County, Hempfield Township. Sponsors are Ulrich Danner and his wife. God bless our going out and coming in, Your plowing and seedtime, Your morning and evening sacrifice, That the mountains bring you tidings of peace And the hills dance before you, That your children grow up like the cedars of Lebanon."
ProvenanceFound by Holgar Cahill in Winston-Salem, NC, and purchased, on behalf of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., from a dealer there named Davis; given by Rockefeller to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, in 1939; given to CWF by the MoMA in June 1954.