A1. The following data has been extracted from the Naumburg "Inhabitants Book" by Dr Siegfried Wagner, Director of Naumburg Stadtmuseum and Frau Susanne Kröner, Head of Naumburg Town Archives.

Einwohnerbuch Naumburg T-Z 1826-1840; 1841-1850; 1851

Lfd. NI. 433: Weidenbach, Theodor Ernst, (Sohn von 429): *4.12.1818 in Naumburg. "Den 24.8.1837 nach Merseburg". [SAN: 76.5. Bd. 4, 1839: "Will die Malerakademie Dresden besuchen"] Ausbildung als Maler in Dresden, 10.11.1842: 790; 1842 in Berlin; 42-45 Teilnahme an Ägypten-Expedition als Zeichner; 45-78 Mitarbeiter des Ägyptischen Museums Berlin; 1866 zweite Ägypten-Reise als Begleiter von Lepsius; +14.9.1882 in Merseburg. [Th./B.: Architektur- und Landschaftsmaler (bes. Orientmaler) in Berlin. Bereiste Ägypten und malte für die Wiener Weltausstellung 1873 unter Aufsicht des Ägyptologen Heinrich Bruksch Aquarell-Kopien der Wandgemälde von Benihassan (jetzt in der ägyptologisch-orientalischen Sammlung des kunsthistorischen Museums Wien).

Lfd. Nr. 646: Weidenbach, Maximilian Ferdinand, Sohn des Malers Weidenbach. *6.3.1823 in Naumburg, Wohnung: 1826: 732…6.6.1839 Haus 502. "Den 13.1.1840 auf Wanderschaft". [1840: Lepsius ruft Weidenbach nach Berlin, um ihn im Hieroglyphenschreiben auszubilden"; 1842: erste Textausgaben mit Hieroglyphen von Max Weidenbach; 42-45 Teilnahme an der Lepsius-Expedition als Zeichner; ihm obliegt es, die H. zu kopieren, die er in die Zeichnungen der anderen einträgt; Maler 10.11.1842: 790; April 1849 Auswanderung nach Australien; +um 1892 [Kurzbio: Elke Freier und Stefan Grunert: Reise durch Ägypten nach Zeichnungen der Lepsius-Expedition 1842-45. 5. Leipzig 1996.]

 

A2. "The History and Topography of Glen Osmond" by Thomas Gill, Adelaide 1905. Archive CD Books

WEIDENBACH, Max Ferdinand, born at Naumburg, April, 1823. Completed his education there, then studied Egyptology, especially the writing and translation of Hieroglyphics at Berlin under Richard Lepsius, a native of Naumburg. He became very proficient in his branch, and the hieroglyphic printing types made later at Berlin were prepared from his drawings, and those of his brother, Ernst, who studied with him. In 1842, together with his brother, Ernst, was chosen by Lepsius as a member of the expedition headed by him and sent out by King Frederick William IV. of Prussia to explore the ruins of the Nile Valley. The Weidenbachs joined the expedition as drawers of hieroglyphics to copy the Egyptian inscriptions. Arrived at Alexandria on September 18th 1842. Remained in Egypt for three years, including a trip to Mount Sinai. Returned to Prussia via Palestine and Turkey, and arrived at Berlin in the beginning of 1846. Left for S.A. in 1849. Went with his brother, Moritz to Ballarat in 1852, returned and bought land in Glen Osmond. He was one of the pioneers of the wine industry, and at the second exhibition of wines at the S.A; Winegrowers' Exhibition meeting held at the wine cellars of Mr. Henry Noifcenius, Gilbert-place, Adelaide on May 6, 1863, obtained first prizes for sweet and white wines. As a florist he obtained many prizes at the Horticultural and Floricultural Shows in the sixties. Received for his services in Egypt a ring from the King of Prussia, also brought from Egypt the head
and wrappings of a mummy, which are now in the possession of Arnold E. Weidenbach, of Glen Osmond. He died on August 24, 1890.

 

A3. "Commemorative Biography of Maximilian Ferdinand Weidenbach"  1981 by Chris Illert, Henley Beach, South Australia.

This pioneering work draws on English and German sources to provide an account of the Weidenbach brothers' participation in the 1842 Lepsius expedition to Egypt (pp.8-30). It has been generally superseded by more recent sources.


A4. BERLIN-BRANDENBURGISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN http://aaew.bbaw.de/wbhome/LepsiusArchiv/index.html  contains the following brief biographies:

Ernst Weidenbach (4. Dezember 1818 - 14. September 1882)

Als drittes Kind des Landschaftsmalers August Weidenbach, dessen Werke 1848 in der Berliner Kunstakademie ausgestellt wurden, erhielt Ernst Weidenbach seine erste zeichnerische Ausbildung durch seinen Vater in seiner Geburtsstadt Naumburg. Nach Beendigung der Schulzeit übersiedelte er 1837 zunächst nach Merseburg, später dann nach Dresden, um sich dort als Maler und Zeichner weiter ausbilden zu lassen. Wohl auf Anregung seines jüngeren Bruders Maximilian Ferdinand Weidenbach kam er Anfang der 40er Jahre nach Berlin und lies sich in Vorbereitung auf die Königlich Preußische Expedition nach Ägypten bei Richard Lepsius ägyptologisch unterrichten. Zusammen mit Georg Erbkam verließ Ernst Weidenbach im August 1842 Berlin in Richtung Venedig, von wo aus er per Schiff nach Alexandria reiste. Mitte September trafen dort mit Richard Lepsius auch die anderen Expeditionsteilnehmer ein. Nach Abschluß der Expedition wurde Ernst Weidenbach Mitarbeiter des Berliner Museums. Als Begleiter von Lepsius unternahm er 1866 eine zweite Reise nach Ägypten. Seine vielen Skizzen aus Ägypten nutzte Weidenbach für zahlreiche Buchillustrationen. Unter Aufsicht von Heinrich Brugsch erstellte er 1873 zur Weltausstellung in Wien Aquarellkopien der Wandmalereien von Beni Hasan. Sie befinden sich heute in der Ägyptisch-Orientalischen Sammlung des Kunsthistorischen Museums in Wien. Im Jahre 1878 beendete er seine Tätigkeit am Berliner Museum und zog zurück nach Merseburg, wo er fast 64jährig verstarb. S. Grunert © BBAW - Altägyptisches Wörterbuch - 2001

(As the third child of the landscape painter August Weidenbach, whose works were exhibited in 1848 in Berlin academy of arts, Ernst Weidenbach received his first drawing training from his father in his birth city Naumburg. On completion of school time he moved first to Merseburg in 1837, then later to Dresden, in order to be able to be trained further as a painter and draughtsman. Probably on suggestion of its younger brother Maximilian Ferdinand Weidenbach he came at the beginning of the 40's to Berlin in preparation for the Royal Prussian expedition to Egypt with Richard Lepsius, Egyptologist. Together with George Erbkam, Ernst Weidenbach in August 1842 left Berlin for Venice, from where he travelled by ship to Alexandria. In the middle of September Richard Lepsius arrived there with the other expedition participants. After conclusion of the expedition Ernst Weidenbach became an associate worker of the Berlin Museums. As a companion of Lepsius, he undertook in 1866 a second journey to Egypt. Weidenbach for numerous book illustrations used his many sketches made of Egypt. Under supervision of Heinrich Brugsch he contributed in 1873 to the world exhibition in Vienna, watercolour copies of the wandmalereien of Beni Hasan. They are today in the Egyptian-oriental collection of the art-historical museum in Vienna. In the year 1878 he finished working at the Berlin museum and retired to Merseburg, where he died aged almost 64 years.) kw translation

Maximilian (Max) Ferdinand Weidenbach (7. März 1823 - 24. August 1890)

Maximilian Ferdinand Weidenbach wurde als fünftes Kind des Landschaftsmalers August Weidenbach, dessen Werke 1848 in der Berliner Kunstakademie ausgestellt wurden, in Naumburg geboren. Dort erhielt er durch seinen Vater seine erste zeichnerische Ausbildung. Nach Beendigung der Schulzeit übersiedelte er 1839 nach Berlin, um sich hier bei Richard Lepsius ägyptologisch schulen zu lassen. Ein erstes Ergebnis waren die 1842 publizierten 79 Lithographien, die das 17,3 m lange Turiner Totenbuch wiedergeben. Für diese Arbeit nutzte Max Weidenbach Durchzeichnungen, die Lepsius 1836 am Original hergestellt hatte. Zusammen mit Lepsius verließ er im August 1842 Berlin in Richtung London, von wo aus sie zusammen mit Joseph Bonomi d. J., Johann Jacob Frey und James William Wild per Schiff nach Alexandria reisten. Mitte September trafen sie dort auf die anderen Teilnehmer der Königlich Preußischen Expedition. Nach Abschluß der Expedition wurde Max Weidenbach für 3 Jahre Mitarbeiter des Berliner Museums und malte die Räume des Ägyptischen Museums mit altägyptischen Motiven aus. 1846 wanderte Max Weidenbachs zweitältester Bruder, August Friedrich Weidenbach, nach Südaustralien aus. Wie die anderen Geschwister - bis auf Ernst Weidenbach - folgte auch Max Weidenbach seinem Bruder 1849 und wurde zum ersten Preußischen Konsul für Südaustralien ernannt, ein Amt, das er bis 1855 ausübte. Als erfolgreicher Goldgräber nutzte er seinen Gewinn, indem er 1852 in Glen Osmond mit dem Weinbau begann. Nach dem Tod seines ältesten Bruders betrieb er ihn auch auf dessen Ländereien mit großem Erfolg. In den 70er Jahren war Max Weidenbach einer der größten Weinproduzenten Australiens. Zusammen mit anderen deutschen Einwanderern erreichte er 1859, daß in Glen Osmond eine staatliche Schule für die weltliche Ausbildung der Arbeiterkinder eröffnet wurde. Im Jahre 1863 begründete er mit anderen Immigranten den Süd-Australischen Allgemeinen Deutschen Verein. 1882 verließ Max Weidenbach nochmals für ein Jahr Australien, um in Deutschland bei einem Jubiläumstreffen der Teilnehmer an der Königlich Preußischen Expedition nach Ägypten dabei zu sein. Von seinen in Australien entstandenen künstlerischen Arbeiten haben sich nur zwei Illustrationen in einem Buch über Glen Osmond, den Ort, in dem Max Weidenbach 67jährig verstarb, erhalten. S. Grunert © BBAW - Altägyptisches Wörterbuch - 2001

(Maximilian Ferdinand Weidenbach was born in Naumburg as a fifth child of the landscape painter August Weidenbach, whose works were exhibited in 1848 in Berlin academy of arts. He received his first drawing training from his father in Naumburg. On completion of the school he moved in 1839 to Berlin, in order to be able to be trained here with Richard Lepsius, egyptologist. His first achievement was the 79 lithographies published in 1842, which show the 17.3 m long Turiner book of the dead. For this work Max Weidenbach used Durch zeichnungen (“contact prints”) of the original, which had been made by Lepsius in1836. Together with Lepsius, he left Berlin in August 1842 for London, from where they traveled together with Joseph Bonomi, D J., Johann, Jacob Frey and James William Wild by ship to Alexandria. In mid September they met the other participants of the Royal Prussian expedition. After conclusion of the expedition Max Weidenbach was, for 3 years an associate worker citizen at the Berlin Museums and painted rooms of the Egyptian museum with old-Egyptian motifs. Max Weidenbach’s second oldest brother, August Friedrich Weidenbach, emigrated to South Australia in 1846. Like his other brothers and sisters - with the exception of Ernst Weidenbach - Max Weidenbach followed its brother in 1849. He was appointed as the first Prussian consul for South Australia, an office, which it exercised until 1855. A successful gold prospector, he used his gains to begin viticulture in Glen Osmond in 1852. After the death of its oldest brother, he also managed his estates with great success. In the 70's Max Weidenbach was one of the largest Australian wine producers. Together with other German immigrants, in 1859 in Glen Osmond he started a state school for the secular training of the children of workers. In the year 1863 he founded with other immigrants the South Australian German Association. In 1882 Max Weidenbach again left Australia for one year, in order to be in Germany for an anniversary meeting of the participants in the Royal Prussian Expedition to Egypt. Of his Australian artistic work we have only two illustrations in a book concerning Glen Osmond, the place where Max Weidenbach died, aged 67 years.) kw translation 

 

A5 "Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien" by Richard Lepsius 1859. The University of Halle in Sachsen Anhalt has now published the complete work at http://edoc3.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/lepsius/ . Here one can examine the brilliant work of the Ernst and Max (among others) by selecting "Tafelwerke" > "Abteilung" > "Band - " and stepping through the pages of one of the twelve volumes.

 

A6. Brief von Richard Lepsius an Minister vom 13. Sept. 1865. Aus den Akten des geheimen Staatsarchivs Preußischer Kulturbesitz (From the secret state archive: Preußischer Kulturbesitz)  Translated by Rick Compton, Elaine & Iris Fitzpatrick und Ingo Weidenbach, 2010

Honoured Professor!
I would like to bring to your attention a circumstance which has developed. The Egyptology program is in serious danger. The vice-king of Egypt has decided to publish a splendid collection of his museums artefacts. The production will be turned over to Mariette, a Frenchman, who was employed by the Egyptian collection of the Louvre, but now is working for the vice-king. For such a publication only the most talented draughtsmen and lithographers will by trusted to accomplish this.
The considerable work of the Prussian Expedition, which has up to now not been surpassed, would not have been possible without the two Weidenbach brothers whom I trained 2 years before the beginning of the expedition, one of which went to Australia. Since the departure of the one (Max Weidenbach) I have only had the other brother (Ernst Weidenbach), who has worked only on this project for 10 years. He is the only Egyptian draughtsman in Berlin and in Germany and most outstanding of all that are available. Next to him there are only two excellent draughtsmen abroad, but who do not compare to him. One is Deveria in Paris, and the other is Bonomi in London, the latter who participated in the first part of our expedition. Every worthy publication of hieroglyphic monuments in London and Paris were executed by them.
Also, the Egyptian-publications of the museum of Leyden by Dr. Leemanns were all drawn by Hooiberg, who was exact in his work, but had limited knowledge of the Egyptian style.
It is, therefore, understandable that there is a search going on for a draughtsman who can handle this monumental task of Egyptian-French works. Most preferably one would have chosen a Frenchman if there had been one to find. Deveria would not want to give up his permanent position at the Louvre, just as Bonomi in London. Mariett believes that our artist, E.W., was convinced through considerable offers to carry out the project. The accompanying ticket from our consul in Cairo Dr. Brugsch, for which I request a refund, proves the seriousness of the offer. I don’t doubt that the preceding mentioned annual fee of 2,000-3,000 rt, and any further conditions which E.W. might want, under the existing situation, and considering the wasteful habits of the vice-king, if it has anything to do with his reputation, would be approved without any problem. In the preceding case, it would initially be a matter of comparison and rivalry regarding our Prussian written works of Egyptian monuments. Apart from the fact of the scientific value, since its publication, it has become the single basis of domestic and foreign hieroglyphic researches. It has surpassed the earlier artistic works Rosselini and Champollion.
Thanks to the great generosity of the king, the result of which the 900 large format printed works were exhibited after the 3-year expedition, they may never be surpassed. Although it would be definitely desirable that these works of Mariett with the Cairo museum would be outstanding, he does not possess the scientific knowledge. Furthermore, it would be very regrettable if it would come to our disadvantage.
It would be an inestimable advantage for the Egyptian-French work if they could win over Ernst Weidenbach, the indisputable drawing and lithographic forerunner.
His years-long experience and training in Berlin, under my careful tutelage, was financed by the government. Should he depart, we would no longer be in the position to further publish Egyptian monumental works. Whether I could train another draughtsman as good as Weidenbach is questionable, taking into consideration the time, trouble and cost. Anyway, if he left, our loss could not be replaced as is also recognized by Cairo from their generous offer.
After the recent case of the treasury against the lithographer Monecke, regarding the geographic pages of the expedition was won, it will be necessary to recover the loss due to the unscrupulousness of this man, and to deliver the description of the works. For this we have selected some charts that cannot be manufactured without the help of hieroglyphics expert Weidenbach.
The first and only magazine about Egyptian language and history, formerly published by Dr. Brugsch, and now by me, contains contributions from France, England, as well as Germany, not only because here is the logical centre for such studies, but also due to the fact that we have the technology and equipment to reproduce the hieroglyphs.
Only because of the precision drawings of Weidenbach was it possible to produce the most accurate and comprehensive hieroglyphic type sets. The type sets have to be updated from time to time with the latest types, without which the articles and texts of the monument documentation could not be printed. Only Weidenbach is qualified to create the necessary drawings. Otherwise I would not be able to accurately reproduce my scientific article. I also want to point out that Weidenbach and Erbkam are the last expedition members remaining in Berlin. Only they are completely familiar with all aspects of the expedition. He would be indispensable to me, if I had to make a catalogue of all the artefacts we brought back with us.
For these reasons it is imperative that we hire Weidenbach. Otherwise France will receive all the honours for the Egyptian research, and all of our majesty the king’s efforts would be for nothing.
For 10 years Weidenbach completed the results of the expedition to my total satisfaction. However, afterwards he was not able to gain a solid income despite his efforts and those of his courageous wife.
We should consider ourselves lucky that he has not yet accepted the position offered him in Egypt. He told me immediately, after getting this offer, that he would prefer to remain in Berlin because of the great distance and the education of his children, if he could obtain a salary of 500-600rt (Reichstaler). Considering the outstanding technical abilities, along with the Egyptian specialization of Weidenbach, the General Director of the museum, Mr. von Olfers and I agree the he should receive permanent employment at the museum, if it would be possible to procure this certainly modest wage.
In view of this situation, I believe that I can address my request to Your Everlasting Excellency to approve a yearly salary of 500-600rt for Ernst W. as a draughtsman for the royal museum.

With the greatest reverence, I remain Your Excellency’s obedient servant    Richard Lepsius   Berlin, 13 December 1865

A7. Extracts from the Tagebuch von Elizabeth Lepsius, ( "Wegbereiter der Ägyptologie  Carl Richard Lepsius  1810 - 1884" Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin 2010 )

21/1/1866  "Richard will endlich seinen Plan ausführen, nach Ägypten zu reisen. Beim Fastnachtsball auf dem Schloß sprach der König mit ihm darüber, der für seinem Begleiter Weidenbach 1500 Thlr. Reisegeld bewilligt hat. Der Kronprinz sagte ihm, er würde gern mitreisen, aber sein Vater ließe ihn nicht fort ..."

"Richard will finally carry out his plans to travel to Egypt. At the Carnival Ball at the Palace the king spoke with him about it, that for his companion Weidenbach he had approved 1500 thalers travel money. The Crown Prince told him that he would really like to travel with them but his father would would not allow him to go away ..."       translation by kw

 

A8. From the files of  Das geheime Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz  (as for A6)

12.04.1872 Weidenbach receives the confirmation that he will earn 100rt more per year.

08.09.1875 Request to be allowed to wear the medal he received from the vice-king. (The medal was awarded for work on the Viennese World’s Fair in 1873)

18.10.1875 No Rental Assistance (housing allowance) for Weidenbach.

17.10.1881 Leave to Merseburg given to Weidenbach after a stroke on 17.04.1881.

13.04.1882 Extension on leave for Weidenbach. Half yearly extension on leave for Weidenbach until 24.04.1884.

Letter from 21. March 1884 to Lepsius from Erica Weidenbach about the hopeless condition of her husband. ( He died on 14 September 1884)

 

A9. Extracts from the Passenger List, Australia 1849     by Dianne Cummings http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/Adelaide.htm 

Sailing ship AUSTRALIA from Hamburg 2 - 05 1849 via Rio de Janeiro with Captain W.H. Sleebom, arrived Port Adelaide on 10-09-1849

The first few days of the journey were no doubt filled with a certain amount of suspense for the ships of Denmark were supposed to be blockading the Port. The "AUSTRALIA" previously named the "EDMUND PERKINS" successfully overcame the blockade and steered a course for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After about 20 days in Reo de Janeiro, she left on July 23rd, 1849, bound for Port Adelaide. The vessel was a big ship of 695 tons, well built and being of greater tonnage sailed along more smoothly, but it still tossed about in heavy seas, and brought much discomfort to its passengers. After weeks of sailing they would have entered that stormy tract in the Atlantic Ocean between 40 and 50 degrees N. latitude where the Roaring Forties would take them along a more direct passage to the Australian Coast. It may not have been all "plain sailing" but it appears that nothing conspicuously untoward or even fatal occurred on the voyage.
Ref: Mortlock Library, Migrant Ships for South Australia 1836-1860 by Ronald Parsons.

SHIPS RATIONS (PER PERSON)
Sunday - 5/6th lb. meat, dumplings, pudding, and one bottle of wine for eight persons.
Monday - ½ lb. bacon, peas and potatoes.
Tuesday - 3/8th lb. meat, beans and sour lentils.
Wednesday - ½ lb. bacon and sauerkraut.
Thursday - 5/8 lb. meat, rice and potatoes.
Friday - ½ lb. bacon, peas and potatoes.
Saturday - Grutze (peeled grain) with prunes and syrup.
Coffee or tea was available in the mornings and evenings.
In addition, each person received per week:
½ lb. butter, 5 lb. bread (Zweibach) and ¼ lb. sugar.

Australia 1849 Passenger List Australia 1849 Passenger List

A10. Tagebuch von Diosma Weidenbach. The diary entries by Moritz' wife Diosma from Dec. 1870 to Feb, 1882 (13pp) chronicles some of the events and expresses her feelings as she interacts with various family members - her joy, her angst and her hopes. Copies of this private document, including an english translation, are held by various family members.