Certificate for Christian Steltz and Catharina Schmidt

Dateca. 1799 (probably)

Attributed to Friedrich Krebs (1749-1815)

MediumWatercolor, ink, and paper cutouts on laid paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 16 x 12 3/4in. (40.6 x 32.4cm) and Framed: 20 9/16 x 17 7/16in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1966.305.3

DescriptionA vertical format certificate, the text centered in the lower half with a scene of Adam and Eve beneath the tree of Knowledge, the snake facing down its trunk toward Eve, who holds the apple. Large flowers flank the couple, while cutout flying birds and turkeys are pasted along the sides of the sheet with, in the lower half, watercolored flowers and profiles set in medallions.

The 2 1/1-inch splayed mahogany-veneered frame is a period replacement.
Label TextThis broad-ranging certificate was intended to document an unusual number of events. It records the date of a marriage and, in addition to the husband's and wife's names, provides their birth dates and parents' names. The text further allows for the insertion of data regarding the couple's baptisms and confirmations and the number of their sons and daughters, but these facts were only partially completed or were left blank.

A prominent feature of this fraktur is the use of several cutout designs -- the peacock, turkey, and flying birds. These were cut from imported Dutch papers embossed with motifs. No materials of this sort are listed in the artist's estate inventory, but his continual use of them indicates that he must have kept quantities on hand throughout his career. In Europe such papers were generally used for bookbindings and endpapers.

Adam and Eve were popular decoration on a variety of objects in Pennsylvania German households. Their appearance on Steltz's certificate is symbolic, since the fraktur records the recipient's marriage as well as birth. The overall arrangement --- with profile likenesses in the lower corners, matching flowers at either side of the top of the text, and applied birds surrounding the hastily worked flowers and Garden of Eden -- is typical of Krebs's ability to create distinctive and often original compositions.
InscribedHandwritten In ink in fraktur-style lettering is:

[at top] :"Adam und Eva"
[below] : "Christian Steltz ist von christlichen und/ehrlichen der Reformirten Religion zugethan/Eltern gezeugt u. geboren worden den 19 febru/ari im Jahr 1777. In Pennsylvanien in Mont/gomerÿ Cownty in New-Hanover Townschip./Der Vater war Peter Steltz und die Mutter Gertraut eine geborne/Reifschneiderin. Und wurde getauft von hrn. [blank] Taufzeugen waren/Christian Lessig und seine frau Elisabetha. Wurde Confirmirt durch hrn fried./Delicker im Jahr 17[blank]. Wurde getraut mit Catharina Schmidtin im jahr/1799 den 8ten September. Diese ist von christl. u. ehel. der Refor: Religion zuge=/thanen Eltern gezeugt u. geboren worden den 20ten Märtz im jahr 1780 In Penn/sylvanien in Montgo. Cownty in New-Hannover Townschip. Ihr Vater war/Johannes Schmidt und die Mutter Maria eine geborne Roschin. Und wurde/getauft von hrn. [blank] Taufzeugen waren [blank]/ wurde Confirmirt durch hrn. fried. Delicker im jahr/17 [blank]. Obige Eheleut haben in ihrer Ehe/[blank] Kinder gezeugt [blank] Söhne und [blank] Töchter."

The translation reads:
[at top] : "Adam and Eve"
[below]: "Christian Steltz was born to Christian and honorable parents belonging to the Reformed religion, begotten and born the 19th of February in the year 1777 in Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County, in New Hanover Township. His father was Peter Steltz and his mother Gertraut, nee Reifschneiderin. And was baptized by Mr. [blank]. Baptismal sponsors were Christian Lessig and his wife Elisabetha. Was confirmed by Mr. Fried. Delicker in the year 17[blank]. Was married to Catharina Schmidtin in the year 1799, the 8th of September. She was born to Christian and honorable parents belonging to the Reformed religion, begotten and born the 20th of March in the year 1780 in Pennsylvania in Montgomery County in New Hanover Township. Her father was Johannes Schmidt and her mother Maria, nee Roschin. And was baptized by Mr. [blank]. Baptismal sponsors were [blank]. Was confirmed by Mr. Fried. Delicker in the year 17[blank]. The above married people in their marriage have been the parents to [blank] children, [blank] sons and [blank] daughters."

ProvenanceOwnership prior to CWF's source, Richard Wood, is undocumented.

Exhibition(s)