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From the Descriptive Page: GERMANY is justly proud of her Minnesingers-those early bards who, as the name signifies, made love the burden of their song. Some of them, indeed, produced sustained and impassioned verses of epical dignity, such as the Nibelungen Lied, Gudrun, and similar hero-songs; but the larger number of these wandering or court poets uttered lighter lyrics upon the charms of woman and the deeds of her chivalrous defenders. The Minnesingers were the Troubadours of Germany. One of their finest representatives, equally for his personal traits and the quality of his verse, was Waiter von der Vogelweide (literally, "Walter of the bird meadow"), who flourished in the latter part of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth century. The following is a free translation of one of his most admired love-songs: "Thoroughly sweet and full of loveliness are pure women. There was never anything so lovely in air, or on earth, or in all the green meadows. Lilies and roses, when they shine in the May dew through the grass, and the song of little birds, are, compared with this charm, without color and sound. . . . Lady, nobly sweet, highly praised, full of pure goodness, thy modest person inspires the spirit. Thy lips are redder than the rose amid the dews. God has ennobled and exalted pure women, so that one may prize and honor them forevermore. The treasure of the world, with all rapture, lies in them. For discontent and sadness nothing is so good as to look on a beautiful maid when she gives to her lover a pleasant, heart-felt smile." Another of this poet's lyrics has furnished the theme of Kaulbach's picture. The Linden tree, it should be premised, is fraught with amorous associations, as Heine has sung. The artist has sought to present a typical Minnesinger-probably to suggest Walter himself. The semi- nude shepherdess, however, whom the poet's minstrelsy has charmed, would seem to belong to Arcadia, rather than to Germania's cooler clime. Wilhelm von Kaulbach was born at Arolsen in 1805, and received his art education chiefly in the Düssel- dorf Academy and under Cornelius. He became the greatest figure in contemporary German art, and displayed a versatility of genius exceedingly rare, embodying with almost equal felicity the sublimest themes and the lightest fancies. He died in 1874. PUBLISHED DATE : 1880s OVERALL SIZE approx 11 x 15 1/4 inches Actual print size: 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 ins - PUBLISHER Gebbie & co. CONDITION: There is visible smudges in the borders otherwise in Very Good Condition and Blank on back. Suitable ageing. As scanned. The image is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful detail. The print comes with a descriptive page. FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU PURCHASE: This is a GENUINE ANTIQUE VINTAGE 1880s Print/Map. It is NOT a modern reproduction, ie. a laser scan, photocopy, etc. It is the original from the antique or vintage atlas or book publication. This print was published on the date mentioned, or circa the date mentioned at the top of the page. The print I have for sale, like many antique vintage prints and maps that you see online, originate from an antique vintage book or atlas publication. The publication may not always be known. If you have any questions, emails are welcome. Shipped Unmatted.
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