Johannes Overbeck
Encyclopedia
Johannes Adolph Overbeck (March 27, 1826 - November 8, 1895) was a German archaeologist and art historian.
(1782-1848), and was father-in-law to anthropologist Emil Ludwig Schmidt
(1837-1906). His uncle was famed painter Friedrich Overbeck (1789-1869).
In 1848 Overbeck received his Ph.D.
from the University of Bonn
, where he was a Privatdocent from 1850 to 1853. In 1853 he became extraordinary professor of archaeology and dean of the archaeological collection at the University of Leipzig
. He worked at Leipzig
for the remainder of his career, and became an ordinary professor in 1859. Two of his better known students were Adolf Furtwängler
(1853-1907) and Adolf Michaelis
(1835-1910). He also helped direct the Archaeological Institute in Berlin (1874-1895).
Overbeck was a specialist of Greek Kunstmythologie (mythological art) in the field of archaeology. One of his earliest publications was an important work on Pompeii
which ran to several editions, and in 1884 with August Mau
(1840-1909), he published a book about Pompeii and its works of art, titled Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümern und Kunstwerken.
He rarely visited archaeological sites, preferring to write about them second hand. This tended to give his writings a dry flavor, which even his comprehensive marshalling and organization of materials could not really overcome. Carl Schurz
has noted that “it has been said that [Overbeck] wrote the best book that has ever been written on Herculaneum
and Pompeii
, without ever having seen either spot.” Overbeck's devotion was mainly to the lecture pulpit, and there he made his most noteworthy contributions. His lectures were very well attended, the primary ones with frequently over 100 listeners. He sought to improve the life of students in other ways as well by establishing a reading room and infirmary. As one compensation for his lack of first-hand experience, he developed Leipzig's collection of plaster casts
.
Biography
Overbeck was born in Antwerp. He was son-in-law to zoologist Georg August GoldfussGeorg August Goldfuss
Georg August Goldfuss was a German palaeontologist and zoologist.-Biography:Goldfuss was born at Thurnau near Bayreuth. He was educated at Erlangen, where he graduated Ph.D. in 1804 and became professor of zoology in 1818. He was subsequently appointed professor of zoology and mineralogy at the...
(1782-1848), and was father-in-law to anthropologist Emil Ludwig Schmidt
Emil Ludwig Schmidt
Emil Ludwig Schmidt was a German anthropologist and ethnologist who was a native of Upper Eichstätt. He was son-in-law to art historian Johannes Adolph Overbeck ....
(1837-1906). His uncle was famed painter Friedrich Overbeck (1789-1869).
In 1848 Overbeck received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where he was a Privatdocent from 1850 to 1853. In 1853 he became extraordinary professor of archaeology and dean of the archaeological collection at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. He worked at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
for the remainder of his career, and became an ordinary professor in 1859. Two of his better known students were Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler was a famous German archaeologist, teacher, art historian and museum director. He was the father of the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and grandfather of the German archaeologist Andreas Furtwängler....
(1853-1907) and Adolf Michaelis
Adolf Michaelis
Adolf Michaelis was a German classical scholar, a professor of art history at the University of Strasbourg from 1872, who helped establish the connoisseurship of Ancient Greek sculpture and Roman sculpture on their modern footing...
(1835-1910). He also helped direct the Archaeological Institute in Berlin (1874-1895).
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
which ran to several editions, and in 1884 with August Mau
August Mau
August Mau was a prominent German art historian and archaeologist who worked with the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut while studying and classifying the Roman paintings at Pompeii, which was destroyed with the town of Herculaneum by volcanic eruption in 79 AD...
(1840-1909), he published a book about Pompeii and its works of art, titled Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümern und Kunstwerken.
He rarely visited archaeological sites, preferring to write about them second hand. This tended to give his writings a dry flavor, which even his comprehensive marshalling and organization of materials could not really overcome. Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz
Carl Christian Schurz was a German revolutionary, American statesman and reformer, and Union Army General in the American Civil War. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German-born American elected to the United States Senate.His wife,...
has noted that “it has been said that [Overbeck] wrote the best book that has ever been written on Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Herculaneum was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in AD 79, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania in the shadow of Mt...
and Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
, without ever having seen either spot.” Overbeck's devotion was mainly to the lecture pulpit, and there he made his most noteworthy contributions. His lectures were very well attended, the primary ones with frequently over 100 listeners. He sought to improve the life of students in other ways as well by establishing a reading room and infirmary. As one compensation for his lack of first-hand experience, he developed Leipzig's collection of plaster casts
Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig
The Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig is a collection of antiques in Leipzig, Germany.-History:The foundations of the collection were laid in the first half of the 18th century, with the first acquisitions of antiques by the University. As early as 1735, Johann Friedrich Christ,...
.
Selected writings
- Pompeii, Leipzig 1855
- Geschichte der Griechischen Plastik (History of Greek sculpture), Two volumes, Leipzig 1857/58
- Die archäologische Sammlung der Universität Leipzig (The Archaeological Collection of the University of Leipzig), Leipzig 1859
- Die antiken Schriftquellen zur Geschichte der bildenden Künste bei den Griechen (The Ancient Manuscript Sources on the History of Greek Fine Arts), Leipzig 1868
- Griechische Kunstmythologie (Greek Art-mythology), Three volumes, Leipzig 1871/89
- Atlas, Leipzig 1872/87
- Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümern und Kunstwerken (Inside Pompeii's Buildings, Antiquities and Works of Art), with August Mau (1884)