Max Theodor Götz (1779 - 1853)
Der Todten-Tantz
|
Götz: Cook
|
In 1834 engraver and painter Georg Max (Maximilian) Theodor Götz from Weimar
copied the entire dance of death in Erfurt.
The resultat was 56 watercolours that today are kept in a book titled:
»Der Todten-Tantz nach Beck, Nöller u. anderen Malern /
Auf Allerhöchsten Befehl copirt«.
This means that the entire series of 56 paintings has been recorded — along with the accompanying verses.
Ca. 10 years later Kruspe copied
46 of the paintings as line-drawings, but without the dialogues.
Later the text and short information about the paintings were published by
Ludwig Schellenberg in a booklet with the title:
"Denksprüche und Beschreibung der Gemäldegallerie des
sogenannten Todtentanzes im […] Erfurt".
In 1872 the orphanage burned down along with the 56 paintings, and
thus Götz is the only person to have copied the entire dance, and the only person to have copied both text and images.
Götz: Mountain man
|
Götz: Student
|
Götz's watercolours often differ from Kruspe's drawings.
It is difficult to determine which one is the more correct of the two,
but in general Kruspe has more details.
In some cases, it is clear that these details were
an integral part of the painting, which Götz erroneously has omitted.
Götz mountain man walks around with empty hands, but Bellermann
and Pohle
writes that he is using a dowsing rod to locate iron ore,
and that Death grabs the rod to lead it towards the open pit.
This means that
Kruspe's Mountain man
is correct.
Götz lets Death arrive empty-handed to the student,
but Bellermann and Pohle agree that Death reads from a book
with the Latin quote: "Disce Mori".
So once again
Kruspe's drawing is more correct.
Götz also copied the text.
In general, the text agrees better with the one that
J. D. Pohle published in 1823, than with the one
Schröer published in 1902.
This scene was added by Götz.
|
Here are some of the differences between Schröer's and Götz's texts.
In some of the cases Pohle has the same difference.
The queen's dialogue is totally different.
The mayor's dialogue has been altered a lot.
The lawyer gets a tougher fate.
In one version, Death promises him he will go to heaven: »dich den Gang zum Himmel führen«;
in Götz' version he's going in a more downward direction: »dich den Gang hinunter führen!«.
In the quack's dialogue the verses are exchanged,
so Death speaks first (like Death does in almost all of the other dialogues).
Death's words to
the old woman are replaced by a eulogy
from the orphanage.
There is a mistake in the last word in
the typefounder's verse,
with the word "Lettern" being repeated.
The book contains an additional scene: Death to the drunkard (right).
The picture and dialogue are probably Götz's own invention, but one wonders
why he added another scene when his task was to copy the dance »Auf Allerhöchsten Befehl«.
External Link
Further Information
Watercolours by Max Götz
The sequence is from Scröer's text.
Death
|
Actress
|
Dancer
|
Singer
|
Gypsy woman
|
Cook
|
Astronomer
|
Typefounder
|
Quack
|
Judge
|
Book printer
|
Cooper
|
Miller
|
Potter
|
Wax trader
|
Wedding inviter
|
Children
|
Digger
|
Mountain man
|
Mayor
|
Musician
|
Queen
|
The empress
|
Emperor
|
Pope
|
Field watch
|
Civil servant
|
Old man
|
Painter
|
Lawyer
|
Merchant
|
Banker
|
Colonel
|
Soldier
|
General
|
Innkeeper
|
Apothecary
|
Physician
|
Count and countess
|
Young woman
|
Young man
|
Priest
|
Canon
|
Cardinal
|
Hunter
|
Student
|
Principal
|
Elector
|
King
|
Adam and Eve
|
Christ
|
Old woman
|
Orphanage
|
Orphanage
|
Orphanage
|
Drunkard
|
Dances of death
Erfurt
Max Götz
