Johannes Bard Explained

Johannes (sometimes John) Bard (1797–1861) was an American fraktur artist.

A blacksmith by trade, Bard was also a lay leader in the German Methodist Church; he passed his career in Adams and York Counties, Pennsylvania, and Frederick County, Maryland.[1] He is among the most prolific fraktur artists known to have lived or worked in York County, alongside Daniel Peterman.[2] A large portion of his work consists of copies of baptismal certificates published by a printer in Hanover, Pennsylvania. It has been posited that he was a pupil of George Peter Deisert.[3] Unusually, some of his pieces incorporate American symbols and themes into their decorative schemes.[4] Others depict prominent figures, including American presidents.[3] Many examples of Bard's work, mainly writing samples but including other pieces as well, can be found in the collection of the Winterthur Museum.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Johannes Bard. David Wheatcroft Antiques. Apr 8, 2019.
  2. Book: June Burk Lloyd. York County Heritage Trust (York County, Pa.). Faith and family: Pennsylvania German heritage in York County area fraktur. 1 January 2001. York County Heritage Trust. 9780971810808.
  3. Book: Gerard C. Wertkin. Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. registration. 2 August 2004. Routledge. 978-1-135-95614-1.
  4. Web site: Happy Birthday, William Rauzahn. Frederick Magazine. Apr 26, 2017. Apr 8, 2019.
  5. Web site: Search Results - Museum Collection - Winterthur Museum. museumcollection.winterthur.org. Apr 8, 2019.