Winterthur Museum Acquires One of the Earliest Known American Depictions of the Easter Bunny

artknowledgenews ^

[JoeProBono]

WINTERTHUR, DE - Winterthur Museum recently acquired one of the earliest known American depictions of the Easter Bunny, which was sold at Pook & Pook auction house in Downingtown , Pennsylvania . Together with the Christmas tree, the custom of the Easter rabbit and colored eggs was brought to America by immigrants from southwestern Germany in the 1700s, and has become a favorite American tradition. This delightful image is attributed to schoolmaster Johann Conrad Gilbert (1734–1812), who emigrated from Germany in 1757 and ultimately settled in Berks County , Pennsylvania . He likely made the drawing as a gift for one of his students. A similar drawing, also attributed to Gilbert, is in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg.

These drawings are examples of a Pennsylvania German tradition of decorated manuscripts known as fraktur, which include birth and baptismal certificates, family records, writing samples, and bookplates.

[JoeProBono]

[Ditter]

I saw the Easter bunny in my side yard yesterday. My Jack Russel Terrorist are out looking for him now.

[abb]

[abb]

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

I love Winterthur and the Gardens. It's the perfect time of year to be there.

[JoeProBono]

[paulycy]

[martin_fierro]

ping

[JoeProBono]

[bgill]

Agree on the scary. Looks like a leopard with spotted scales.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[paulycy]

[Daffynition]

Enchanted. Indeed.

[jimfree]

Mrs. jimfree is a big fan of Winterthur. She has attended conferences there and has been a presenter. Oh, she also knows Pook & Pook - she’s gone there to acquire pieces for Riversdale Mansion, the house museum where she works.

We appreciate your posting this this article and the great pic.

[Joe 6-pack]