Martin von Nathusius, “Eine deutsche Dichterin vor hundert Jahren,” Allgemeine Konservative Monatsschrift für das christliche Deutschland 46 (1889), 158–69, here 161–63, concerning Philippine Gatterer’s trip to Kassel to sit for her portrait (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):
But her [Philippine Gatterer’s] acquaintance with Gottfried August Bürger would have consequences completely different than those relating to her poetic inspiration and development. She was approached about having her portrait engraved for the [Göttinger] Musenalmanach scheduled to appear in 1781, something no youthful poetess would likely decline. Hence in the summer of 1780 [ed. note: not 1781], she traveled to Kassel to stay with family acquaintances and have her portrait done by the director of the Academy, the respected artist Johann Heinrich Tischbein. . . .
Philippine enjoyed a cordial reception everywhere in Kassel, as a result in part of her literary reputation and in part of her charming personality. . . .
And indeed Tischbein himself was so pleased with his work and its subject that he painted the successful portrait, which he reckoned among his most beautiful, yet again for himself.
The engraving by Weiss in Kassel according to the original did indeed appear in the [Göttinger Musen-] Almanach of 1781 but has none of the grace and youthful freshness of that original.
Philippine was also graciously received in the Tischbein family’s house; he was keen on showing her all the things worth seeing in the town, which was indeed an extremely interesting place at the time, and with guiding her around in general. Hence her stay there passed quite agreeably. A page I still have before me with various notes about daily events attests the lively social life she led there. One also makes the fleeting remark: “Herr Secretary Engelhard was also there.”
And indeed, this initial, fleeting encounter was to become one of the turning points in Philippine’s external circumstances. Engelhard himself had once studied in Göttingen and had often enough passed by her house without suspecting what she would one day mean to him. Now, however, he saw her often at the Tischbein home, quickly became better acquainted with her, and indeed had already made his decision in his heart. Philippine, too, was increasingly attracted to him at every encounter. Beneath a certain rather stiff external appearance she sensed his inner substance and a fine, constant heart. Her own much-sung ideal suddenly seemed to be actualized.
It was with these impressions that she returned to Göttingen. . . .
It was not long before Engelhard rode over to Göttingen himself, asked Philippine’s parents for her hand, and received it.
(Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1813: Der Liebe und Freundschaft gewidmet [Frankfurt]; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung):
[Here two engravings by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki depicting a couple receiving the woman’s father’s permission and blessing (from Fragment einer Heirathsgeschichte [1794]; Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum; Museumsnr./Signatur DChodowiecki AB 3.988; Da nimm sie hin [ca. 1781–83]; Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum; Museumsnr./Signatur JARossmaesler WB 3.22)]:
They became engaged on 24 September 1780, though that very afternoon he had to return home and she attend a ball. . . . They married quite soon, on 23 November of that very year . . .
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott