Winged Dragon

Dateca. 1803

Artist Jacob Strickler (1770-1842)

MediumInk on laid paper

DimensionsPrimary Support; irreg.: 13 1/4 x 16 1/2in. (33.7 x 41.9cm) and Framed: 15 1/8 x 18 3/16in. (38.4 x 46.2cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1974.305.6

DescriptionFraktur drawing of a long sausage-like winged beast with his head turned so that his mouth is on top and his horn (or ear?) faces down. His open mouth reveals two rows of pointed teeth; he has scaly toes, or claws, and a scaly, corkscrew tail that is raised over his back. There are two sets of wings on his back, each with a multitude of feathers. There is a collar or band around his neck. He stands on a double line filled with zig-zags. Religious phrases are written beneath the dragon, and a greeting written upside down appears at the top. The upper left corner of the sheet is missing.
The 2-inch molded wood frame painted black and green with a 1/4-inch sawtooth decorated inner edge is a period replacement.
Label TextFragmentary, disjointed incriptions on both front and back suggest that Strickler treated this uncolored and perhaps unfinished drawing much like scratch paper. The front bears phrases of a religious nature and, upside down at the top, a greeting. On the back, Strickler noted certain verse selections from Old Testament books and various hymns below them.
It cannot be assumed that any of the inscriptions, including the 1803 date, were made at the time Strickler drew the dragon. Creatures of a similar type appear in the work of a small group of decorators from Pennsylvania, but no other examples are known from Virginia. Perhaps Strickler meant this as a companion to "the daring hero [that is, acc. no. 1974.305.9] who himself deliberately sought danger in order to fight with the great dragon named." Whatever its purpose, it remains one of the most intriguing examples of his extant work.

InscribedThe German texts on the front and reverse of this piece are mostly illegible, partly because a corner has been cut or torn away. The translations below are generally word for word. The texts on the reverse are the first lines of German hymns and a list of Bible passages.
In German on the front the inscriptions read: (under the dragon) "gut ists weil von dem"; (under the border)"Aber lasser uns Gott Lieben"; (above dragon's wings)"Es ist Dier besser wan/berin fes und bleibt/Mahr t. beier/Ein freund liesen gruss und ich/Wan du so gut wid s[illegible material] so[illeg.]ble/mut uf ist viel besser swar[illeg.]."
In German on the reverse the inscriptions read: "Wo soll Ich hin wer hilft mir zu niemand/als zu dir allein Herrr Ich mich befehl/ 5 b m C 19 V 14 (5te Buch Mose Capital 19 vers 14) 5 b m C 27 V 17 (5te Buch Mose Capital 27 vers 17) Hiob C 24 v 2/Spruch Salomo C 22 V 28 C 23 v 10/Sofia C 5 v 10/Wer nur den lieben Gott last walten und hoft/JACOB STRICKLER wohn/In schanedor Caunty Virginien April/[folded over here] tag ein tausend acht huntert und drey/Herr Jesus Christ zu uns wend den Heiligen Geist zu/Seelen Bratigam Jesu Gottes lamm/Ach alles was Himmel."
The English transalations from the front read: (under the dragon) "it's good because from the"; (under the border) "but let us love God"; (above dragon's wings) "It is better for you when [illeg.] and remains [illeg.] A friend sends greetings and I, When you so well [illeg.]."
The English translations from the reverse read: "Where shall I flee? Who helps me? To no one but you alone, Lord, I commit myself/Deuteronomy 19:14/Deuteronomy 27:17/Job 24:2/Proverbs 22: 28 23:10/Wisdom 5:10/If you but trust in God to guide you and hope/Jacob Strickler lives/in Shenandoah County, Virginia, April [folded over the day]/one thousand eight hundred and three/Lord Jesus Christ, be present now/Jesus still lead on . . . [the last two lines are the melody from the hymn "Jesus still lead on"]/Oh, everything which heaven . . . ."
See also "Marks."

MarkingsA watermark in the primary support reads: "A KELLER" and includes a tulip design for the Abraham Keller firm, which began papermaking about 1781 and operated at least until 1810 in Exeter Township, Berks County, Pa.
See also "Inscriptions."
ProvenanceThis piece was acquired, along with 11 others (see "Related Works") from Jesse Modisett, Augustus M. Modisett, Harold M. Modisett, and Mrs. Lawrence H. Modisett. Jesse Modisett's letter to Don Walters dated December 19, 1974, identifies these three relations as his brothers and sister-in-law. Ownership prior to the Modisetts' has not been recorded.