Porträt Wenceslaus Johann Gustav Karsten (1732-1787)

Portrait of Wenceslaus Johann Gustav Karsten. The German professor of mathematics and physics is shown here as a chest pattern in the profile to the right. He wears wig with braid and simple clothes. The effigy is framed round and placed on top with a pretty bow on a hook on a nail. Under the effigy a board appears with its name and activity. Wenceslaus Johann Gustav Karsten studied theology and philosophy in Rostock. He continued his studies in Jena. He also studied mathematics in his own studies, which earned him a job as a private lecturer and a professorship in logic at the University of Rostock a few years later. In 1778 he followed a reputation of the University of Halle and became professor of mathematics and physics there. He died in Halle at the age of 54. The leaf was drawn and designed as a copper engraving by the Zurich engraver and draftsman Daniel Beyel (1760-1823) after life. It was then used and moved by the Berlin writer and publisher Friedrich Nicolai (1733-1811) as a frontispiece of the publication “Allgemeine deutschen Es” (78th volume, Berlin/Szczecin 1788). Other copies of the paper are in the University Libraries of Heidelberg and Leipzig, the Gleimhaus in Halberstadt and others. The Austrian National Library in Vienna even has several leaves and variants of the engraving. Signature: D. Beyel ad viv. del. et sc. Inscription: W.I. G. KARSTEN Professor of Halle. Source: “Allgemeine:” (78th volume, Berlin/Szczecin 1788) (: Händel-Haus Halle Foundation)