''Goethe at the Window'' is a 1786/7 watercolour by German painter

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, known as the ''Goethe Tischbein'' (15 February 1751 in Haina – 26 February 1829 in Eutin), was a German painter from the Tischbein family of artists. Biography Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein was born on 15 ...

. It depicts the poet

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as trea ...

looking out of the window of the apartment in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

he shared with the artist. The watercolour has been in the collection of the

Freies Deutsches Hochstift The Freies Deutsches Hochstift (Free German Foundation) is a literary association based in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. It is the owner of the Goethe House, the place where the playwright and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born and spent his ...

since 1955.

Background

Tischbein moved to Italy in 1783, after receiving a stipendium from Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg on the recommendation of Goethe. He remained there until 1799, and encountered Goethe upon the latter's "Italian Journey" of 1786–88. Tischbein shared a house on Rome's

Via del Corso The Via del Corso is a main street in the historical centre of Rome. It is straight in an area otherwise characterized by narrow meandering alleys and small piazzas. Considered a wide street in ancient times, the Corso is approximately 10 metres w ...

with the painters

Friedrich Bury Friedrich (Fritz) Bury (12 March 1763 – 18 May 1823) was a German artist born in Hanau. He studied first under his father Jean Jacques Bury, who was a goldsmith and professor in the Academy of Design in Hanau, and then with Johann Heinrich W ...

, Johann Heinrich Meyer,

Johann Heinrich Lips Johann Heinrich Lips (29 April 1758, in Kloten – 5 May 1817, in Zürich) was a Swiss copper engraver; mostly of portraits. Biography His father was the village surgeon and barber. His Latin teacher, the local pastor, introduced him to Johann ...

and . Goethe lodged for over a year from October 1786 in the shared flat, which is now the Casa di Goethe museum. During this time, Tischbein made the ''Goethe at the Window'' watercolour and painted his more famous work ''

Goethe in the Roman Campagna ''Goethe in the Roman Campagna'' is a painting by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, a German Neoclassical painter, depicting Johann Wolfgang von Goethe when the writer was travelling in Italy. Goethe's book on his travels to Italy from 1786–88, ...

''. From studying the layout of the flat in Via del Corso, it has been deduced that this drawing depicts Goethe in his bedroom, which overlooked the Via Fontanella.

References

Sources

* * {{Cite book , title=J.H.W. Tischbein , publisher=Karl Wachholtz Verlag , year=1986 , isbn=3-529-02545-3 , location=Neumünster , pages=251-255 , language=de , chapter=J.H.W. Tischbeins biographische Daten , ref={{harvid, Biographische Daten, 1986 Cultural depictions of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Paintings by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein 1787 paintings