$80.00 CAD
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1852 letter from Johannes Oertel in Newark NJ to his wife in Madison NJ.. Discussing his sales of art and client for his portrait painting.
They are struggling financially.
Later he was invited to assist in preparing new decorations for the new United States Capitol that was then under construction in Washington.
Newark Tuesday noon 18-2
My dearest ---
I am happy to say, that I am enabled by the sale of the little stags to send you the amount, you will find in this letter. It sold almost right away for the low prize of $10 of which, as it may be expected, I had to give 10—commission. Since luck was so good I left the sailor there, perhaps I can get rid of it before I leave town. Please tell Man—to make the amount of our two notes full – probably I am in the condition a few days from now, to replace it again. So, our God be thanks, our difficulty is settled- the others He will look to likewise in His great mercy. And we, my darling, let us gather comfort for our other troubles – and- do not cry too much.
Mr. Rosi was with me at Mr. Parkers house to morrow morning. I shall commence the oldest boy, the little girl is sick. I have therefore on that account to postpone the drawing of the same. Whom else I shall get, I do not know as yet. Please send the crucifixion(?) on as soon as convenient. The picture of hope pleases very much.
--- has no work yet, although Mr. Rosi did what he could. He has to – too. His love to you all, and mine especially to my little wife who God may bless.
Yours for ever Johannes
Addressed to Mrs. Johannes A. Oertel Artist Madison N.J. Morris County
Postmarked NEWARK N.J. FEB 03 5 cts. Also manuscript 5
Johannes Adam Simon Oertel (1823-1909) was a German-American Episcopal clergyman and artist.
After his education in Nuremberg and Munich, Oertel began engraving, which he continued until 1848. In 1849, he relocated to the United States and taught briefly in Newark, New Jersey. After his marriage, he engraved plates for bank notes, painted portraits, and colored photographs.
In 1857, Oertel moved to Madison, New Jersey, where he painted Lament of the Fallen Spirits and Redemption. Around this time, he was invited to assist in preparing new decorations for the new United States Capitol that was then under construction in Washington, D.C.
Oertel was known primarily as a portrait painter. He often left the church in Lenoir, North Carolina, to go north to earn money by painting portraits.
WIKIPEDIA
The artist recounted in a diary that his first twenty years in America were spent “struggling in debt . . . most of the time for daily bread, a striving under many difficulties & discouragements for the attainment of an idea.”
Johannes Oertel :: The Johnson Collection, LLC
