Etruskische Spiegel, Herausgegeben Von Eduard Gerhard, Archäologen Des Königl. Museums Zu Berlin, Archäologischen Instituts Zu Rom Mitdirektor Und Sekretar, Der Königl. Akademie Der Wissenschaften Zu Berlin Ordentlichem, Der Akademieen Zu Göttingen Und München Auswärtigem, Des Königl. Französischen Instituts, Der Herkulanischen Und Der Päpstlichen Akademie, Der K.K. Akademie Der Künste Zu Wien, Der Königl. Litterarischen Societät Zu London U.A. Correspondirenden Und Ehrenmitglied. - Erster Theil. Allgemeines Und Götterbilder. Abbildungen Tafel I - CXX. (- Vierte Theil. Tafel CCLXXXI-CDXXX. Text Zu Tafel CCLXXXI-CDXXX.) -
Berlin,: Druck Und Verlag Von G. Reimer, 1843 (-1867).
Physical Description
4 vols.; 327 mm. (Quarto.)
General Note
Vol. I: [2], 97, [1] p., pl. 1-120. (The plate carrying numbers 15, 16 is one dble. pl.) - Vol. II: [8] p., pl.121-240. (Some copies of Vols. I, II have added title-pages in French.) - Vol. III: xiv, 347, [1] p., pl. 241-280. - Vol. IV: [4], 120, 103, [1] p., pl. 281-430.
Contents
Vol. I: [T.p.] - Vorrede - Inhalt - Inhalt Der Kupfertafeln - [Text] - [Plates]. - Vol. II: [T.p.] - Inhalt Der Kupfertafeln - [Plates]. (Some copies of Vols. I, II have added title-pages in French.) - Vol. III: [T.p. of 'Dritter Theil'; t.p. of 'Dritten Theiles Zweite Abtheilung'] - Inhalt Des Dritten Theils - Vorrede - [Divisional t.p., 'Etruskische Spiegel. Dritter Theil'] - [Text] - [Plates]. - Vol. IV: [T.p.] - Vorwort (by Otto Jahn) - [Div. t.p., 'Etruskische Spiegel. Vierter Theil. Nachträge Zu Tafel LXI-CCXL, Beginnend Mit Tafel CCLXXXI'] - [Text] - Register - [Plates].
Responsibility Note
In Vol. I all plates are unsigned. In Vol. II the last plate is signed 'Sämtlich gest. v. E. Jättnig in Berl.' In Vol. III all are signed as lithographed by A. Schütze, except two signed as engraved by Albert Schütze. In Vol. IV most are signed as lithographed by A. Schütze but most of the last thirty are signed 'A. Schütze Lith. Inst. Berlin'.
The name of the printer and publisher is given more fully on the title-pages of Volumes III and IV as Georg Reimer.
References
Gerhard's work is discussed in A. Schnapp and M. Tiews, 'Eduard Gerhard: Founder of Classical Archaeology?', in Modernism / Modernity, 11:1 (2004), p.169-71; H. Wrede, ed., Dem Archäologen Eduard Gerhard 1795-1867 zu seinem 200. Geburtstag (1997). Its context is described in S.L. Marchand, Down from Olympus: archaeology and Philhellenism in Germany 1750-1970 (1996).
On the impact of the publication of Etruscan excavations see the bibliographic note on Etrusco Museo Chiusino (1833).
Summary Note
The publication-dates carried by the four title-pages are of 1843, 1845, 1863 and 1867. After Eduard Gerhard's death a fifth volume was published in 1897, edited by A. Klügmann and G. Körte. Some copies of Volumes I, II have added title-pages in French, with the title, 'Miroirs Etrusques'.
Gerhard was the first to describe these mirrors simply as hand-mirrors. F. Inghirami in 1824 had described them as 'mystical mirrors'; and earlier archaeologists had regarded them as paterae or shallow dishes.
Most plates show Etruscan engraved mirrors of the late 6th to the 2nd century B.C., carrying images of Etruscan mythology and Etruscan life. A few plates show other Etruscan antiquities.
Reproductions
A number of facsimiles have been published (Rome: L'Erma di Bretschneider, 1965; Berlin: de Gruyter; Rome: Editrice Ardita).
Provenance
The verso of the front free-endpaper of Vol.I is inscribed in pencil, 'S. A. H.', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81. Purchased for RA Library in 1877.
Copy Note
In Volume III page 347 is bound in after page xiv.
Binding Note
19th-century half brown morocco, marbled-papered boards; spines lettered 'Etruskische Spiegel - Gerhard I(-IV)' and 'R.A.'
Subject
Mirrors, Etruscan - Metal-work, Etruscan - Antiquities, Etruscan - Art, Etruscan - Etruscans - Italy - Tuscany - History
Mythology, Etruscan - Iconology
Art history - Germany - 19th century
Pictorial works - Germany - 19th century