DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6656#0071
not opposed by circumstances. It is clear, from his works themselves, that he enjoyed a careful and liberal
education in addition to the professional training, which he received at Augsburg, and which he subsequently
perfected, by repeated journeys in Italy and France. Early in life he attracted the attention of Augustus
the Strong, Elector of Saxony, and King of Poland, of whose love of splendour and art our collection
possesses so many proofs. By him Dinglinger was induced in the year 17<)2 to settle in Dresden, where
he spent the remainder of his life. His house, which was fitted up with great originality , soon became a
centre of attraction to artists, and to eminent men in all departments of knowledge, from the geniality
and kindly humour of its good-natured owner. No distinguished traveller left Dresden without visiting his
workshop. The Czar Peter the Great of Russia is said to have been his guest when he passed through
that city; and his royal employer was his frequent visitor, and was find of watching him at his work.
He was indebted to that monarch for many suggestions, and he discussed with him the plan of many
of the works which he afterwards executed. From the sketches and estimates made for his productions,
which, with the receipts and all other documents concerning them, are preserved in the archives of the "Green
Vaults", we gather that they were all undertaken at his own expense, ami carried out from his own means,
or credit. If we consider their number, and their costly nature, we are astonished at the material resources
of the man; if we think of their variety, and the extraordinary labour, and perseA erance which their execution
required, we are lost in admiration of his inventive faculties, and moral qualities. The explanation i> to be
found in the high character of the artist, and in his genuine love of his art. to which he devoted himself, without
wasting his time, and the powers of his mind, on the external world, and its transient interests, lie seems
to have laboured, with a sincere love of his work, for fame alone, withont a thought of gain or wealth. The
number and magnitude of some of the productions which issued from Ins workshop, most of which arc
to be seen in the "Green Vaults", are. besides, partly to be accounted lor by the assistance which he received
from his brothers, and other members of his family, whom lie summoned to Dresden when his
reputation was established; one of the former was a very clever painter in enamel, of whose skill the
collection in Dresden presents many valuable examples: the other was a mere ordinary working jeweller.
John Melchior Dinglinger, the subject of our notice, died in Dresden, in 1731, leaving one son, also a
goldsmith. Several of his father's unfinished works were completed by him.
education in addition to the professional training, which he received at Augsburg, and which he subsequently
perfected, by repeated journeys in Italy and France. Early in life he attracted the attention of Augustus
the Strong, Elector of Saxony, and King of Poland, of whose love of splendour and art our collection
possesses so many proofs. By him Dinglinger was induced in the year 17<)2 to settle in Dresden, where
he spent the remainder of his life. His house, which was fitted up with great originality , soon became a
centre of attraction to artists, and to eminent men in all departments of knowledge, from the geniality
and kindly humour of its good-natured owner. No distinguished traveller left Dresden without visiting his
workshop. The Czar Peter the Great of Russia is said to have been his guest when he passed through
that city; and his royal employer was his frequent visitor, and was find of watching him at his work.
He was indebted to that monarch for many suggestions, and he discussed with him the plan of many
of the works which he afterwards executed. From the sketches and estimates made for his productions,
which, with the receipts and all other documents concerning them, are preserved in the archives of the "Green
Vaults", we gather that they were all undertaken at his own expense, ami carried out from his own means,
or credit. If we consider their number, and their costly nature, we are astonished at the material resources
of the man; if we think of their variety, and the extraordinary labour, and perseA erance which their execution
required, we are lost in admiration of his inventive faculties, and moral qualities. The explanation i> to be
found in the high character of the artist, and in his genuine love of his art. to which he devoted himself, without
wasting his time, and the powers of his mind, on the external world, and its transient interests, lie seems
to have laboured, with a sincere love of his work, for fame alone, withont a thought of gain or wealth. The
number and magnitude of some of the productions which issued from Ins workshop, most of which arc
to be seen in the "Green Vaults", are. besides, partly to be accounted lor by the assistance which he received
from his brothers, and other members of his family, whom lie summoned to Dresden when his
reputation was established; one of the former was a very clever painter in enamel, of whose skill the
collection in Dresden presents many valuable examples: the other was a mere ordinary working jeweller.
John Melchior Dinglinger, the subject of our notice, died in Dresden, in 1731, leaving one son, also a
goldsmith. Several of his father's unfinished works were completed by him.