Scholar · Museum director
Eduard Gerhard
1795–1867 · Germany
Berlin archaeologist who in 1846 published two female statuettes from Ludwig Ross's Cypriot collection and from 1855 to 1867 directed the Berlin Museum's sculpture and cast section.
Biography
Two female statuettes that Ludwig Ross brought from Cyprus in 1845 were published in a paper by Eduard Gerhard, read to the Berlin Academy on 13 August 1846 under the title "Ueber die Kunst der Phoenicier"1. Gerhard was born in Posen on 29 November 1795 and died in Berlin on 12 May 18674.
In the paper he called the figures "Venusidole" and had them engraved (plate VI, 1 and 2). Masson and Hermary identify the first as a fragmentary woman holding a lotus, probably from Idalion, and the second as a woman holding a cup, probably also from Idalion, whose inventory number and present location are unknown1. Félix Lajard reproduced the first from Gerhard's plate in 18491.
From 1855 to 1867 Gerhard directed the sculpture and plaster-cast section of the Berlin Royal Museum, which Tieck had led from 1830 to 1851. Some of Ross's Cypriot antiquities entered the museum during those years1. The 1846 study was reprinted in his Gesammelte akademische Abhandlungen in 18681.
Life and work
- 13 August 1846Presented 'Ueber die Kunst der Phoenicier' to the Berlin Academy, noting two female statuettes ('Venusidole') from the Ross collection, with engravings (Akad. Berlin pl. VI, 1 and 2); Masson and Hermary say they were found at Idalion and reproduce them. He called two Ross statues and the Caylus one 'angeblich phönicisch'.
- 1855–1867Director of the sculpture section of the Berlin Royal Museum, where some of Ross's Cypriot antiquities entered; Tieck had directed it 1830-1851.
- 1868Study of 1846 reprinted in his Gesammelte akademische Abhandlungen (1868), with pl. XLVII of the album.
Connections
1 personScholarship
- Published material of Ludwig Ross1846
Colleagues & contacts
- Connected with Ludwig Ross1846
Objects
Female statuette ('koré') holding a lotus flower, fragmentary, Egyptianising wig; probably Idalion; published by Gerhard (Akad. Berlin pl. VI, 1) and Lajard (1849)
From Idalion (probable)Berlin (Ross collection)Masson & Hermary 1988, p. 6
Second female statuette holding a cup, 'probably Idalion', present location and inventory unknown; known from Gerhard's engraving (pl. VI, 2)
From Idalion (probable)Masson & Hermary 1988, p. 6
Sources
- 1.O. Masson, A. Hermary (1988). “Le voyage de Ludwig Ross à Chypre en 1845 et les antiquités chypriotes du Musée de Berlin”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 9, 3-10. Online
- 2.O. Masson (1990). “Correspondances chypriotes: lettres des frères Colonna-Ceccaldi et de L. Palma di Cesnola à W. Froehner”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 14, 29-44. Online
- 3.E. Gerhard (1868). Gesammelte akademische Abhandlungen.
- 4.“Friedrich Wilhelm Eduard Gerhard”. Wikidata / GND. Online