Death Memorial for Elisabeth Rayer

Printer

Peter Montelius (1791-1859)

Preview

Scrivener

Daniel Diefenbach (active circa 1825-73)

Decorator

Joseph Miller

Accession Number

PAG2001.025

Creation Date

1830

Date Range

1825-1830

Description

Printed Demkmal with tombstone-shaped center and yellow background.

Dimensions in Inches

7 3/4 x 9 5/8

Dimensions in Centimeters

20 x 24

Materials

Watercolor and ink on paper

Technique

Drawn, Hand lettered

Decorator Location

New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania

Associated Places

Bethel Township, Miles Township, Lebanon County, Centre County

Category

Death memorial (Denkmal)

Motifs

tombstones

Associated Names

Johann Georg Rayer, Elisabeth Schuy, Elisabeth Rayer, Henrich Bage

Rights

Please contact the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College for permissions which fall outside of educational fair use.

Source

Ursinus College Library Special Collections and the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art

Provenance

Pennsylvania Folklife Society

Script/Text

Fraktur lettering, German script

Language

German

Transcription

Denkmahl/des/verstorbenen/Elisabeth Raÿer, geborne Schuÿ/Ihr betrübt hinterlaßene Tochter Elisabth widmet/dieses ihrer verstorbenen Mutter, Elisabeth, geb./Schuÿ, zum Andenken. Sie war geboren auf den/13ten Januar 1758 in Bethel Taunschip,/Lebanon Caunty, Penns. Verheyrathete sich mit/Johan Georg Raÿer auf den 10ten Decem=/ber 1780 mit welchem sie 7 Kinder zeug te; 3 Söhne/und 4 Töchter, wovon 1 Sohn und 1 Tochter/sie überlebte Starb in/Meils Taunschip, Centre Caunty, Penns. den/3ten December, 1830 An einem Rücken=/flusz, nach einem Krankenlager von 1 Jahr, in/einem Alter von 72 Jahren, 10 Monat, 20 Tagen; und wur=/de den 5ten darauf dem Rebersburg Kirchhof zur/Ruhe gebracht; wobey der Ehrw. Henrich Bage,/eine Leichenrede hielt, über 2 Corinther 5, 1.2.

Wann wir kaum geboren werden,/Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt,/Bis zum kühlen Grab der Erden,/Nur ein kurzgemeß’ner Schritt;/Ach mit jedem Augenblick/Gehet uns’re Kraft zurück;/Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre,/Alle reif zur Todtenbahre.

O wer weiß’ in welcher Stunde,/Uns die letzte Stimme weckt;/Denn Gott hat’s mit seinem Munde/Keinem Menschen noch entdeckt./Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt,/Geht mit Freuden aus der Welt;/Da die Sicherheit hingegen,/Ew’ges Sterben kann erregen.

Translation

Memorial of the Deceased, Elisabeth Raÿer, born Schuy. Her saddened, surviving daughter Elisabeth dedicates this to her deceased mother, Elisabeth, born Schuy, in remembrance. She was born on the 13th of January 1758 in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. She married with Johan Georg Raÿer on the 10th of December 1780 with whom she produced 7 children; 3 sons and 4 daughters, of whom 1 son and 1 daughter survived her. She died in Meils Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania the 3rd of December, 1830 of a running sore[?], after an illness of 1 year, at the age of 72 years, 10 months, 20 days, and became the 5th brought to rest in the Rebersburg churchyard; whereat the Reverend Henrich Bage gave the funeral sermon, on II Corinthians 5:1-2.

When we are just born…

Comment

This piece lacks the flowers and birds usually added to certificates printed by Montelius but it is filled out by Daniel Diefenbach. Montelius used the same border for the type and sides here that he used on Taufscheine printed about 1825. Montelius used the bottom border from these Taufscheine to form the tombstone border on the Denkmal. The bottom border of this Denkmal is different, however, and is the same as the one Montelius used to border an English edition of the Taufscheine c. 1827, so an approximate date during this time period has been assigned. Note that the “When we are just born...” hymn so common on the Taufscheine appears on this piece as well, representing on fraktur the cycle of life.

Condition

Good

Published

Minardi, Lisa. Roots: Ursinus College and the Pennsylvania Germans (Trappe, Pa.: Historic Trappe, 2019), p. 87, fig. 3.61.

File Format

.jpeg

Type

image