Porträt Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715-1769)

Portrait of Christian Fürchtegott Gellert. The German poet is presented here as a chest image facing to the right. His head faces the viewer, but he looks past him on the left. He wears wig with braid and an open jacket with jabot. The effigy is round, underneath it is a lettering on a board. Christian Fürchtegott Gellert began studying theology and philosophy at the University of Leipzig in 1734. Meanwhile, he kept afloat with private lessons and the education of young nobles. He also worked as editor of the “Bremer war.” From 1745 he lectured in Leipzig in poetry, eloquence and morality. In 1751 he was appointed associate professor of philosophy. The portrait was probably executed by Johann Elias Haid (1739-1809), who worked as a copper engraver and publisher in Augsburg. He is the son of Johann Jakob Haid (1704-1767) and after his death he continued the publishing house. Johann Elias Haid probably used a template from the Swiss painter Anton Graff (1736-1813), who worked in Dresden, which was supposed to have been created in 1709 and is now a replica in the Alten Nationalgalerie in Berlin. Haid created a second leaf that looks very similar to it and was created around 1775. A specimen of this is now in the Berlin State Library. Signature: J. E. Haid excud. Label: C. F. GELLERT. (Stiftung Händel-Haus Halle Foundation)