bible art

power plant vianden
grand-duchy of luxembourg
1st September - 4th November 2001
daily 10:00 - 18:00 hour

Gottfried Engelmann (1788-1839)

A very rare graphic work, having an eminent historical importance for the French technique of the lithography, is the complete series of the lithographies in black and white appeared in 1825, created by Gottfried Engemann (* 1788 and +1839 in Mulhouse / Alsace) according to the 52 frescos of the „Loges of Raphael" in the Vatican. They appear indeed amongst  the first lithographies of the history of art and they are the first French lithographies to illustrate the bible.

In 1814 Engelmann introduced the technique of the lithography in France. He learned this technique at first in Munich from Senefelder, the inventor of lithography, and strongly contributed to the improvement of this technique. In collaboration with his Godefroy son (*1814, +1897) he invented the chromolithography in 1837. His discoveries and inventions carried out so that Engelmann is nowadays regarded as the father of modern engraving.

The original lithographies according to the frescos of Raphael published in 1825 in Paris by Prodhomme must be considered in the history of art the beginning of the illustration of the bible by the lithography. They established the bases on which the later illustrations of the bible were created, up to the color lithographies of Chagall.

The copper plate engravers, graphic designers and the most famous draughtsmen of France worked in the studio of Engelmann, which he transferred later from Mulhouse to Paris. Among those we find Barathier, Barnicon, Bazin, Bouillon, Gelée, Léclan, Marin, Vigneron, Marne, Mongin, Bourgeois and Fragonard.

The exposed cycle was dedicated to its royal Highness, the Duke of Bordeaux. It includes 48 illustrations of the old and 4 illustrations of the new testament, amongst them the famous "last dinner" of Raphael.