History

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born 28 August 1749 in Frankfurt on Main. Being a poet, director of a theatre, scientist, art historian and statesman, he is the most important representative of Weimar Classicism. His works comprised in particular poems, dramas and pink-literature, and also scientific papers. He is considered the most outstanding German poet and is an important personality in world literature. Goethe’s family lived in Frankfurt on Main. From 1765 until 1768 Goethe studied law in Leipzig. But more than the law lectures he was lured by the poetry lectures of Christian Fürchtegott Gellert. In addition he had drawing lessons with Adam Friedrich Oeser. Later he finished his law studies in Strasbourg, without becoming a passionate lawyer afterwards. He preferred to spend his time on poetry. During this time he created the original version of “Goetz von Berlichingen”. At the end of the year 1775 Goethe accepted an invitation from Duke Karl-August of Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach and came to Weimar. After a visit to Italy he returned to Weimar where he lured Friedrich Schiller to work with him on his journal „Die Horen”. This co-operation turned into friendship. In 1811 the first part of his autobiography „Dichtung und Wahrheit“ (Poetry and Truth) was released. In 1830, two years before he died on 22 March 1832, the fourth part of his autobiography came out. Goethe was entombed in the Weimar Princes’ Tomb alongside Friedrich Schiller.