Francis I (Erbach-Erbach)
Encyclopedia
Francis I or Franz I. Graf zu Erbach-Erbach (Erbach im Odenwald
, 29 October 1754 – Erbach 8 March 1823) was a German nobleman and art collector.
, Strasbourg
, and Paris
. He also traveled extensively to London, Brussels, Den Haag, Berlin, Dresden, and Italy. While he was in Rome
, he met several people that would become influential in his life, among them Ennio Quirino Visconti
and Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein
.
As the Count of Erbach, he paid special attention to agriculture, trade, and transportation. Through the influences of Reiffenstein and Visconti, Francis started his own art collection. This collection is now housed by the Erbach Palace
. Francis dedicated his completed art catalogue to Reiffenstein. He was also the pioneer of ivory carving
in Erbach, and his ivory collection now belongs to the German Ivory Museum Erbach
.
Erbach im Odenwald
-Location:The town lies in the Odenwald at elevations between 200 and 560 m in the valley of the Mümling.-Neighbouring communities:Erbach borders in the north on the town of Michelstadt, in the east on the market town of Kirchzell , in the south on the community of Hesseneck and the town of...
, 29 October 1754 – Erbach 8 March 1823) was a German nobleman and art collector.
Biography
From 1769 to 1773, he studied politics and history in LausanneLausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He also traveled extensively to London, Brussels, Den Haag, Berlin, Dresden, and Italy. While he was in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he met several people that would become influential in his life, among them Ennio Quirino Visconti
Ennio Quirino Visconti
Ennio Quirino Visconti was an Italian antiquarian and art historian, papal Prefect of Antiquities, and the leading expert of his day in the field of ancient Roman sculpture....
and Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein
Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein
Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein was a German cicerone for grand tourists, painter, antiquarian and agent for art collectors in Rome.- References :...
.
As the Count of Erbach, he paid special attention to agriculture, trade, and transportation. Through the influences of Reiffenstein and Visconti, Francis started his own art collection. This collection is now housed by the Erbach Palace
Erbach Palace
thumb|right|Main buildingthumb|right|The palace in 1623thumb|right|The [[keep]] of the palacethumb|right|The archives buildingErbach Palace is a palace in Erbach im Odenwald and the seat of the Count of Erbach. It was originally built in the middle ages, but most of the buildings today date back to...
. Francis dedicated his completed art catalogue to Reiffenstein. He was also the pioneer of ivory carving
Ivory carving
Ivory carving is the carving of ivory, that is to say animal tooth or tusk, by using sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or manually. The ancient craft has now virtually ceased, as since CITES it is illegal under most circumstances throughout the world....
in Erbach, and his ivory collection now belongs to the German Ivory Museum Erbach
German Ivory Museum Erbach
The German Ivory Museum Erbach is a museum in Erbach im Odenwald, Germany. It was founded in 1966, but the collection was started by Count Francis I in late 18th century...
.
Literature
- L. Ferdinand Dieffenbach: Graf Franz zu Erbach-Erbach. Ein Lebens- und Culturbild aus dem Ende des XVIII. und dem Anfange des XIX. Jahrhunderts. Darmstadt 1879
- Wolfgang Glüber: Franz I. und der Rittersaal im Schloss zu Erbach. In: Kunst in Hessen und am Mittelrhein. NF 2, 2006, S. 35-62
- Brita von Götz-Mohr: „Amico optimo“. Franz Graf zu Erbach-Erbach (1754–1823), Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein (1719–1793) und die Antikensammlungen in Erbach im Odenwald. 2006