Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
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| - | ''Bertalda, Assailed by Spirits'' (c. 1830), a subject taken from the short story "[[Undine]]" (1811) by [[Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué]] | + | :''Bertalda, Assailed by Spirits'' (c. 1830), a subject taken from the short story "[[Undine]]" (1811) by [[Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué]] |
| - | '''Theodor Richard Edward von Holst''' ([[3 September]] [[1810]] – [[14 February]] [[1844]]) was a nineteenth-century British literary painter. | + | '''Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte, Baron Fouqué''' ([[February 12]], [[1777]] – [[January 23]], [[1843]]), was a [[Germany|German]] [[writer]] of the [[romanticism|romantic]] movement. |
| - | Von Holst was born in [[London]], the fourth of the five children of Matthias and Katharina von Holst. Von Holst's drawing talents were noticed by the artist [[Henry Fuseli]] and Sir [[Thomas Lawrence (painter)|Thomas Lawrence]]. Lawrence even bought drawings from the ten-year-old von Holst. Fuseli trained the young man after which he was admitted to the [[Royal Academy]] Schools in 1824. According to Max Browne's biographical article in the ''[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]'', von Holst's "early instruction by Fuseli exerted such a powerful influence on his artistic development that some of his work is almost indistinguishable from that of his master". | + | ==Biography== |
| + | He was born at [[Brandenburg an der Havel]]. His grandfather [[Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué]] had been one of [[Frederick the Great]]'s generals and his father was a [[Prussia]]n officer. Although not originally intended for a military career, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué ultimately gave up his university studies at [[university of Halle|Halle]] to join the army, and he took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. The rest of his life was devoted mainly to literary pursuits. He was introduced to [[August Wilhelm Schlegel]], who deeply influenced him poetologically (''mich gelehret Maß und Regel | Meister August Wilhelm Schlegel''), and who published Fouqué's first book, ''Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin'', in 1804. | ||
| - | Like Fuseli, von Holst painted mostly literary subjects; he drew from the works of [[Virgil]], [[Dante]], [[William Shakespeare]], [[Mary Shelley]], and [[Victor Hugo]]. Von Holst was the first artist to illustrate Shelley's novel ''[[Frankenstein]]'' in 1831. However, the German [[Romanticism|Romantics]], particularly the works of [[Goethe]], [[E. T. A. Hoffmann]], and [[Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué]], were the basis of almost half his works. Von Holst became "the most prolific English illustrator of German Romance". As Browne explains, "while [von Holst's] exceptional imagination and draughtsmanship were widely praised, his choice of subjects were out of step with the age and public taste. His penchant for the demonic, supernatural, and erotic led to a degree of neglect that was otherwise undeserved." | + | ===Marriage=== |
| + | Fouqué's first marriage was unhappy and soon ended in divorce. His second wife, [[Karoline von Briest]] (1773-1831) enjoyed some reputation as a novelist in her day. After her death Fouqué married a third time. Some consolation for the ebbing tide of popular favour was afforded him by the munificence of [[Frederick William IV of Prussia]], who granted him a pension which allowed him to spend his later years in comfort. He died in Berlin in 1843. | ||
| - | However, von Holst exhibited 49 paintings at major exhibitions in London and sold portraits to collectors. Also, [[Dante Gabriel Rossetti]], greatly admired Von Holst's work and according to Browne "considered him a significant link between the older generation of English Romantic painters, such as Fuseli and William Blake, and the Pre-Raphaelite circle". | + | ==Literary work== |
| - | On [[17 August]] [[1841]], von Holst married Amelia Thomasina Symmes Villard in [[Marylebone]]. | + | {{cquote|Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read [[Undine (novella)|Undine]]: that is a fairytale ... of all fairytales I know, I think Undine the most beautiful. ([[George MacDonald]], ''The Fantastic Imagination'')|20px|20px}} |
| - | Von Holst died from a disease of the liver at his home in London and was buried on [[21 February]] [[1844]]. After his death, his works were sold on [[26 June]]. The composer [[Gustav Holst]], whose middle name was Theodore, was his grand-nephew. | + | |
| + | ===Romantic roots=== | ||
| + | After ''Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin'', his second work, ''Romanzen vom Tal Ronceval'' (1805), showed more plainly his allegiance to the romantic leaders, and in the ''Historie vom edlen Ritter Galmy'' (1806) he versified a 16th century romance of [[medieval]] [[chivalry]]. | ||
| + | ''Sigurd der Schlangentödter, ein Heldenspiel in sechs Abentheuren'' (1808), was the first modern German dramatization of the Nibelung legend combining Icelandic Sources such as the [[Volsunga Saga]] and the Middle High German [[Nibelungenlied]]. That play and its two sequels ''Sigurds Rache'' (1809) and ''Aslauga'' (1810) were published together under the title ''Der Held des Nordens'' in 1810. The trilogy attracted attention to him, and influenced considerably subsequent versions of the story, such as [[Friedrich Hebbel]]'s ''Nibelungen'' and [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]''. These early writings indicate the lines which Fouqué's subsequent literary activity followed; his interests were divided between medieval chivalry on the one hand and northern mythology on the other. In 1813, the year of the rising against [[Napoleon]], he again fought with the [[Prussia]]n army, and the new patriotism awakened in the German people left its mark upon his writings. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Popular works=== | ||
| + | Between 1810 and 1815, Fouqué's popularity was at its height; the many romances and novels, plays and epics, which he turned out with extraordinary rapidity, appealed exactly to the mood of the hour. The earliest of these are the best -- ''[[Undine (novella)|Undine]]'', which appeared around 1811, being, indeed, one of the most charming of all ''German Märchen'' and the only work by which Fouqué's memory still lives today. A more comprehensive idea of his powers may, however, be obtained from the two romances ''Der Zauberring'' (1813) and ''Die Fahrten Thiodolfs des Isländers'' (1815). | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Later years=== | ||
| + | From 1820 onwards the quality of Fouqué's work deteriorated, partly owing to the fatal formal ease with which he wrote, and he failed to keep pace with the changes in German taste. He clung tenaciously to the paraphernalia of romanticism; but in the cold, sober light of the post-romantic age, these appeared merely flimsy and theatrical. The vitalizing imaginative power of his early years deserted him, and the sobriquet of a "[[Don Quixote]] of Romanticism" which his enemies applied to him was not unjustified. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Translations=== | ||
| + | Most of Fouqué's works have been translated, and the English versions of ''Aslauga's Knight'' (by [[Thomas Carlyle]]), ''Sintram and his Companions'' and ''Undine'', have been frequently republished. For Fouqué's life cf. ''Lebensgeschichte des Baron Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. Aufgezeichnet durch ihn selbst'' (Halle, 1840), (only to the year 1813), and also the introduction to Koch's selections in the ''Deutsche Nationalliteratur''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Aslauga's Knight'', ''Sintram and his Companions'' and ''Undine'' are referred to in ''Jo's Boys'' by [[Louisa May Alcott]], the final book in the [[Little Women]] series, where the story of ''Aslauga's Knight'' mirrors the character Dan and his affection for gentle Bess. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | *''Ausgewählte Werke'', edited by himself, in 12 vols. (Berlin, 1841) | ||
| + | *A selection, edited by [[M. Koch]], in [[Kürschner]]'s ''Deutsche Nationalliteratur'', vol. 146, part ii. (Stuttgart, 1893) | ||
| + | *''[[Undine (novella)|Undine]]'', ''Sintram'', etc., in innumerable reprints. *Bibliography in [[Karl Goedeke]]'s ''Grundriss zur Geschichte der deutschen Dichtung'' (2nd ed., vi. pp. 115 ff., Dresden, 1898). | ||
| + | *''Fouqué und einige seiner Zeitgenossen'', [[Arno Schmidt]] (Bläschke 1958; 2nd Revised Edition 1960), also in the Bargfelder Edition, Volume III/1 (1993) | ||
| + | * {{1911}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Arno Schmidt]] | ||
| + | * [[George MacDonald]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 20:08, 26 November 2008
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- Bertalda, Assailed by Spirits (c. 1830), a subject taken from the short story "Undine" (1811) by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte, Baron Fouqué (February 12, 1777 – January 23, 1843), was a German writer of the romantic movement.
Contents |
Biography
He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel. His grandfather Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué had been one of Frederick the Great's generals and his father was a Prussian officer. Although not originally intended for a military career, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué ultimately gave up his university studies at Halle to join the army, and he took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. The rest of his life was devoted mainly to literary pursuits. He was introduced to August Wilhelm Schlegel, who deeply influenced him poetologically (mich gelehret Maß und Regel | Meister August Wilhelm Schlegel), and who published Fouqué's first book, Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin, in 1804.
Marriage
Fouqué's first marriage was unhappy and soon ended in divorce. His second wife, Karoline von Briest (1773-1831) enjoyed some reputation as a novelist in her day. After her death Fouqué married a third time. Some consolation for the ebbing tide of popular favour was afforded him by the munificence of Frederick William IV of Prussia, who granted him a pension which allowed him to spend his later years in comfort. He died in Berlin in 1843.
Literary work
Romantic roots
After Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin, his second work, Romanzen vom Tal Ronceval (1805), showed more plainly his allegiance to the romantic leaders, and in the Historie vom edlen Ritter Galmy (1806) he versified a 16th century romance of medieval chivalry.
Sigurd der Schlangentödter, ein Heldenspiel in sechs Abentheuren (1808), was the first modern German dramatization of the Nibelung legend combining Icelandic Sources such as the Volsunga Saga and the Middle High German Nibelungenlied. That play and its two sequels Sigurds Rache (1809) and Aslauga (1810) were published together under the title Der Held des Nordens in 1810. The trilogy attracted attention to him, and influenced considerably subsequent versions of the story, such as Friedrich Hebbel's Nibelungen and Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. These early writings indicate the lines which Fouqué's subsequent literary activity followed; his interests were divided between medieval chivalry on the one hand and northern mythology on the other. In 1813, the year of the rising against Napoleon, he again fought with the Prussian army, and the new patriotism awakened in the German people left its mark upon his writings.
Popular works
Between 1810 and 1815, Fouqué's popularity was at its height; the many romances and novels, plays and epics, which he turned out with extraordinary rapidity, appealed exactly to the mood of the hour. The earliest of these are the best -- Undine, which appeared around 1811, being, indeed, one of the most charming of all German Märchen and the only work by which Fouqué's memory still lives today. A more comprehensive idea of his powers may, however, be obtained from the two romances Der Zauberring (1813) and Die Fahrten Thiodolfs des Isländers (1815).
Later years
From 1820 onwards the quality of Fouqué's work deteriorated, partly owing to the fatal formal ease with which he wrote, and he failed to keep pace with the changes in German taste. He clung tenaciously to the paraphernalia of romanticism; but in the cold, sober light of the post-romantic age, these appeared merely flimsy and theatrical. The vitalizing imaginative power of his early years deserted him, and the sobriquet of a "Don Quixote of Romanticism" which his enemies applied to him was not unjustified.
Translations
Most of Fouqué's works have been translated, and the English versions of Aslauga's Knight (by Thomas Carlyle), Sintram and his Companions and Undine, have been frequently republished. For Fouqué's life cf. Lebensgeschichte des Baron Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. Aufgezeichnet durch ihn selbst (Halle, 1840), (only to the year 1813), and also the introduction to Koch's selections in the Deutsche Nationalliteratur.
Aslauga's Knight, Sintram and his Companions and Undine are referred to in Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott, the final book in the Little Women series, where the story of Aslauga's Knight mirrors the character Dan and his affection for gentle Bess.
References
- Ausgewählte Werke, edited by himself, in 12 vols. (Berlin, 1841)
- A selection, edited by M. Koch, in Kürschner's Deutsche Nationalliteratur, vol. 146, part ii. (Stuttgart, 1893)
- Undine, Sintram, etc., in innumerable reprints. *Bibliography in Karl Goedeke's Grundriss zur Geschichte der deutschen Dichtung (2nd ed., vi. pp. 115 ff., Dresden, 1898).
- Fouqué und einige seiner Zeitgenossen, Arno Schmidt (Bläschke 1958; 2nd Revised Edition 1960), also in the Bargfelder Edition, Volume III/1 (1993)
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
See also
