Joseph and Karl August von Klein

Born in Mainz, Schalck was the son of a painter. He worked chiefly in Frankfurt am Main until 1825 and then in Karlsruhe, where he died.

The setting is the interior of a study. Joseph von Klein, the older man, stands in the center with his right arm around the shoulders of his nephew Karl August (1774–1870). Joseph was the brother and biographer, and Karl August the son, of Anton von Klein (1748–1810), to whom the monument in the background at right is dedicated. Joseph’s biography of his brother is displayed on the piano. A church tower is visible through the window at left. There is a Freemasonry symbol in the lower left corner. The backing removed from the reverse of the ivory is inscribed in pencil: Mr Charles Auguste de Klein / fils unique d’Antoine de Klein avec / son oncle Joseph, auteur de la vie / litteraire d’Antoine de Klein, dont le portrait / se trouve — – (Mr. Karl August von Klein, only son of Anton von Klein, with his uncle Joseph, author of the literary biography of Anton von Klein, whose portrait is — –). Anton von Klein, a philologist and writer, had been a professor at Mannheim. This composition gives a comprehensive view of cultivated German city life. It illustrates the range of the interests of the family. Karl August paints a watercolor landscape; a musical composition is on the piano. The barometer at left and the microscope on the piano indicate scientific interests. The books include works by Buffon as well as by Horace, Voltaire, and Tasso. The symbol of Freemasonry also marks the sitters as enlightened German citizens. This miniature may be dated about 1810–15.

[2016; adapted from Reynolds and Baetjer 1996]

The miniature came to The Met in what was probably the velvet inner liner of a folding case. It was glued into the well of the liner, which is slightly warped, and was not covered with glass. The painted surface is nevertheless in good condition despite a chip near the upper left corner and a crack extending to the edge of the painted window jamb. The damage was stabilized with adhesive and small losses toned. When the miniature was removed from the liner, several laid-paper backings were found, the outermost of which is inscribed (see Catalogue Entry). The well was cleared to give the ivory more room, then covered with cotton blotting paper and a piece of Ethafoam, and edged with ribbon. A convex cover glass was supplied.

[2016; adapted from Reynolds and Baetjer 1996]

Inscription: Signed (lower right, in white): Schalck / pinx.; inscribed: (on monument, in gold) antonio a Klein / Hoc · pietat · monim- / tum · posuere fil · Carol / et frat. Josep Monati; Leben / der Di[ . . . ]; (on book on the piano, in gold) Anton / von / Klein / Leben; (on dog's collar) C.A.vK.; (on sheet music) Allegro mod . . .

Moses Lazarus, New York (until d. 1885); his daughters, Josephine and Sarah Lazarus, New York (1885–1888/95)

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "European Miniatures in The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 5, 1996–January 5, 1997, no. 215.

Leo R. Schidlof. The Miniature in Europe in the 16th, 17th, 18, and 19th Centuries. Graz, Austria, 1964, vol. 2, p. 721.

Graham Reynolds with the assistance of Katharine Baetjer. European Miniatures in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, 1996, pp. 14, 170, no. 215, colorpl. 215 and ill. p. 171, date it about 1810–15.