Taschenbuch - Pocketbook                        

Dated : 1842

Pocket Diary (on title page)

 

Material:  Leather bound with embossed gold wave motif on the edges.   (worn condition)

                 Binding broken, pages hand sown , pockets on front and back inside covers and 

                 loop to hold a pencil.

 

Height:  5.2"  ( 13cm )

Width:    3"     ( 7 1/2 cm )

 x   1"   ( 2.5 cm )

 

This small diary is, to date, the oldest written item that we have from Moritz  Simon.  The entries are made in ink in miniature old German script.. The pages are not numbered. The first cover page which is dated  November 1842  depicts an elaborate colored coats of arms.  A crown is centered above an 'inscription' which is surrounded by drums , flags , trumpets, weapons and decorative tassels.   At the top of the page  the Eye of God, or The Eye of Providence within a triangle is surrounded by rays of light and is centered between the month and the year. Below the emblem  Philippson is written in Greek letters.

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The diary contains a number of pencil sketches, one pictograph and one separate colored  page entitled Hochheim 3 November 1845.  One of the pencil sketches appears to be Napoleon. On the reverse of the page is written  - Napoleon  -  Revolution francaise  (crossed out) Un corse la finira 
(' a Corsican will finish it'). 

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Moritz Simon Philippson - Biography - 1d - Greeting

Height: 8.7" (22cm)
Width: 12.3" (31.5cm)

Moritz Simon Philippson "Johanna"
Print on paper (?) In lower left corner (in "J"
With additional watercolor (?) scroll) is the name Werner or
and opaque green, red and gold paint Wernen Dec. 1859 (in pencil)

 

On reverse E.A. Ph. has written:

 

"Wesel am Rhein gemalt von Dr. med. Moritz Philippson
für seine Braut Johanna Greeven, die er im Pfarrhaus

von Büderich (gegenüber Wesel) kennen gelernt hatte

(Heirat 10.V.1859)"

"Wesel on the Rhine painted by Dr. med. Moritz Philippson
for his bride Johanna Greeven , who he met in the

Rectory of Büderich (across from Wesel)
(Marriage 10.V.1859)"
 

The name ""Johanna" dominates this greeting and shows a view of Wesel in the background.
To the right stands a young boy holding a small decorated Xmas tree in his right hand and in his left a scroll reading:
 

"Johanna du bist meine Freud !" (Johanna you are my joy!)
To the lower left, within the "J" scroll I found the name Werner or Wernen - in pencil (?) with the date Dec. 1859. This date along with the Xmas tree indicates that this may have been a Xmas greeting from Moritz.

On the reverse of the paper one can see reinforcement on the left side with another sheet. Two "stamps" (architectural , not real stamps) are also used for mending at the top and bottom.
Also cf. Richter, Ludwig - German painter and graphic artist 1803 - 1884. Graphic work resembles
"Johanna". Message usually on a scroll which is surrounded by scroll like foliage . The little boy also
resembles children by Richter.
 

How much of this greeting is done by Moritz Simon is unknown. It seems that the basic greeting is
printed and that just the details were added to make it personal.

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The collection includes both signed* and unsigned works, as well as dated and undated works.
* s. = signed

1822 - 1898
1842 Taschenbuch / Pocket Diary
1851 - 52 Skitzenbuch / Sketchbook
1856 Gedichte / Poetry Book
1859 Printed Greeting - ' Johanna '
1867 Waterfall n.s.

1870 Swiss Chalet on a Mountain Lake s.

1874 Lake Summer Sunset s.
1878 Rohrmühle s.
1880 The Hunt s. (related sketch - Sketchbook 1851 -52)
1882 Naples s. ( Italian Trip : March 12 - April 9, 1882 cf. Sketchbook)
1886 Swiss Chalet on a Mountain Lake Above a Village ( cf. date on reverse of canvas)
1887 Fishing Boat s. ( cf. Italian Trip - 1882)
1888 Forest - Thüringer Wald s.
1889 Mill s.
1889 Winter Village s.
1889 Waterfall on Mountain Lake s.
1889 Amalfi s.
1890 Stormy Seascape with Boats s.
1892 Norwegische Wasserfall s.
1893 Castle on the Rhine s.
1895 Riverbed s.

Chapel by the Bridge
Windmill by the Pond
Snow Drifts
Winter Walk
Vierwaldstättersee
Mountain Lake with a Fisherman
Hillside Chapel with Monk
View from a Castle Terrace
Mondschein auf Kreuzer
Fishing Trawler
Mill on Duck Pond
Shepard with Sheep
A Castle Ruin
Ship Wreck
Mountain Landscape ( poor condition)

The above listed thirty-two paintings; the Diary; the Sketchbook; the Poetry Book and the Greeting
'Johanna' are all attributed to Moritz Simon Philippson. Those paintings that have known dates
are listed chronologically. The majority of the paintings have no titles. Only five paintings have information written on the frames which can be interpreted as titles. They are : the Rohrmühle ; Amalfi ; Norwegische Wasserfall, Vierwaldstättersee ; and Mondschein auf Kreuzer. As to the location of known dates, signature and known titles please refer to the individual works.

 

In order to treat the paintings in a logical way they have been arbitrarily grouped according to subject matter and have been given titles.