Johann Gottfried Schweighäuser

Johann Gottfried Schweighauser (French Jean Geoffroy Schweighaeuser; born January 2, 1776 in Strasbourg, † March 14, 1844 ) was an Alsatian philologist, archaeologist and art historian.

Johann Gottfried Schweighauser was taught early on by his father John and his mother, Catherine Salome Schweighauser Häring. Early one recognized his linguistic talent, but especially his good memory, the Schweighauser should be very helpful for an eye condition in the right eye. His father taught him the classical languages ​​, Homer's works, he was able to early heart. He closed the school early, began at the age of 13 years at the University of Strasbourg with the study of philosophy and finished later jurisprudence. Because of the French Revolution and the ensuing turmoil Schweighauser could not go as planned study at other universities. His father was politically active at that time and also urged his 16- year-old son to join the French armed forces, with whom he was in the Palatinate in use among others. At war Schweighauser found, however, no favors, but he was fascinated by the many ruins of the Harz Mountains and the Vosges. In 1795 he became secretary to Charles Nicolas Fabviers at his headquarters in Colmar. During this time he lived in the house of Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, a friend of his father. This, as well as Johann Heinrich Voss influenced him in his poetic attempts, and later some of Schweighäusers poems have been published. He wrote poetry in German language, scientifically he would later publish mainly in French. In both languages ​​, he was equally at home; Schweighauser saw himself later as a mediator between the two cultures.

After his discharge from military service Schweighauser went to Paris, where he was known by Aubin -Louis Millin de Grandmaison, Ennio Quirino Visconti, Jean -Baptiste Gaspard d' Ansse de Villoison, Guillaume de Sainte- Croix, Jean -François Boissonade and Paul Jérémie Bitaubé been. For his father, he examined three manuscripts with texts of Epictetus and the commentary of Simplicius. A discovery made ​​by the father in the work of Simplicius on the life of Xenophon asked Johann Gottfried Schweighauser on January 2, 1797 in front of the Institut de France before. After his return to Strasbourg, he was appointed his father's representative at the Strasbourg Central School ( École centrale). On a trip to Tübingen he learned besides Johann Friedrich Cotta also know several French exile. In 1798 he went again on behalf of his father to Paris, where he examined the original manuscript of Marcian of Athenaeus and four Cebes manuscripts. In Paris, he campaigned for the preservation of the Protestant church holding, if not but should be owned by the City of Strasbourg church property at least. Briefly, he was a tutor in the house of Wilhelm von Humboldt, to this 1801 left Paris again. He gained such a good reputation that then wanted Madame de Staël hire as a tutor him what Schweighauser turned down, however, as this was in 1802 expelled from Paris. With interruptions, he was then to 1812 tutor at Marc -René de Voyer d' Argenson de Paulmy, first in Paris and Poitou, in 1809 in Antwerp. At that time he bought at the suggestion of the Earl of Schlabrendorf a new edition of Theophrastschen characters in the expanded form of Jean de La Bruyère. He also became friends with Paul- Louis Courier and Jens Baggesen, he was well acquainted with August Wilhelm and Friedrich Schlegel in particular, with Charles Benoît Hare he was in frequent replacement. Since 1803, he wrote about French subjects in the journal French Miscellen, on the other hand he brought the French in Millin magazine Magasin encyclopédique German subjects closer. He also wrote regularly for Publiciste and Archives littéraires, to Jean Baptiste Antoine Suards Publiciste he was also involved as an editor.

At the beginning of the 19th century Schweighäusers grew interested in archeology. In Francesco and Pietro Piranesi first volume of the publication of the Musée Napoléon he steered the introductory texts for the 80 images in the style of Visconti's writings at. Because of a disease Schweighäusers was responsible for the lyrics from the second band Philippe Petit- Radel. At the suggestion of Sainte -Croix to himself Schweighauser dedicated after his recovery of the Indian history of Arrian. In this work he improved further and further into it, involved not only the entire relevant literature on the classical studies beyond, but also Antoine- Isaac Silvestre de Sacy and Jean -Denis Barbie du Bocage to cooperate zoom. Even on a trip to India, he thought seriously. In connection with the Arrian Researches also Schweighäusers employment with Georgios Synkellos stood. But even after more than ten years, the research did not come to the end, a publication was prevented by the bankruptcy of his publisher. He also dealt in time with more modern art, especially the Dutch masters, whom he met during his time in Antwerp.

1809 Schweighauser was appointed as an adjunct of his father at the revived University of Strasbourg. This reputation he came but after until 1812, when he was also a professor at the Protestant seminary. In 1815 he succeeded his father librarian of the university. In teaching - as in his writings, he used both languages ​​- he differed from his father, who was more of a sharp critic of the texts. Johann Gottfried Schweighauser devoted to the texts rather in modern philology property and examined the historical background and aesthetic aspects. The same standards he began even in his archaeological studies. Politically, he commented in 1813 clearly anti - Napoleonic and for the old French monarchy. At a center of his efforts were always more ancient antiquities of Alsace. He managed the old, kept in the city library, collection of Johann Daniel Schöpflin and increased it further. In 1817 he published a first contribution to the Alsace of antiquity. The results there, the Semitic, Egyptian and Greek traditions connect with each other, but can not be seen as a serious research results, they are assembled into fanciful and interpreted many monuments arbitrary. Much valuable were Schweighäusers studies of ruins, castles, churches, and the studies in archives and libraries. This Schweighauser can be regarded as a pioneer of archaeological exploration of Alsace. During his investigations he was assisted by his wife Sophie, the daughter of the anatomist Thomas Lauth, who had a great talent for drawing. When in 1819 the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres began to take up the existing legacies in all departments, they could fall back on the preparatory work Schweighäusers, who thus made ​​known until then not scientifically known region of the Lower Rhine to a wider public. For 1821, the first time awarded Gold Medal of the Académie awarded him a year later he became a corresponding member. He created his most important archaeological and art historical work 1825-1828 in collaboration with his friend Philippe de Golbery, of the Upper Rhine, Schweighauser the Lower Rhine, the monumental work Antiquities de l'Alsace, ou châteaux, églises et autres monuments of départemens du Haut et du Bas -Rhin edited. In a single study, it dealt with the Strasbourg Cathedral. He saw himself in archeology as a dilettante and wanted to return to philology back to its regional studies.

Since 1825 Schweighäusers health was strongly attacked. Nevertheless, he worked at a high level, which led to a stroke in 1829. After that, he was paralyzed on the left side and blind in his left eye previously healthy. Largely confined to the house, virtually blind and cared for devotedly by his wife, Schweighauser an alert mind and good memory was afterwards still further granted. Its also previously often exuberant fantasy worried however that he largely, often came at this time to meaningless findings with Etruscan and Celtic references. So he said in the Alsatian dialect to identify remains of the Etruscan language. These results came from especially his correspondence, in addition, he published very little. In 1842 he was once again open up a scientific meeting in Strasbourg, 1844, he was enduring from his 15 years suffering redeemed by death. Its scientific estate passed into the library of Strasbourg, where he was destroyed in a fire in 1870.

Writings (selection )

• Les Monumens antiques du Musée Napoléon, dessinés Graves et par Thomas Piroli; avec une explication par Johann Gottfried Schweighauser; publiés par Francesco et Pietro Piranesi, frères. Volume 1 Paris 1804 digitized.
• Publisher: Johann Friedrich Lichtenberger: History of the invention of printing to save the honor of Strasbourg and complete refutation of the legends of Harlem. Heitz and Gleditsch, Strasbourg and Leipzig 1825 French: Histoire de l'invention de l' imprimerie pour servir de défense à la ville de Strasbourg contre les prétentions de Harlem. Accomp. D'un portrait de Gutenberg et de 8 planches orig. grav. sur bois. Heitz and Renouard, Strasbourg and Paris 1825