Marriage Ceremony

Paul Christian Kirchner

1724

Print engraving of crowd of people outside of building gathered around couple under wedding canopy.
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This illustration depicting a Jewish wedding taking place under a huppah (wedding canopy) near a synagogue appeared in the book Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Jewish Ceremonial Customs), by Paul Christian Kirchner, a Jewish convert to Christianity. The first edition of his book, published in Erfurt, Germany, in 1717, had no illustrations and was critical of Judaism. In 1724, a new edition of the book was published in Nuremberg, Germany. It was edited by Christian Hebraist Sebastian Jugendres (1685–1765), who softened Kirchner’s criticism of Judaism. It included twenty-eight copperplate engravings, which were made in the workshop of Johann Georg Puschner (1680–1749) and his son, also named Johann Georg. On the lower left-hand side of the image several figures, probably non-Jews, are seen in different dress, pointing to someone in the ceremony, which is taking place outside the synagogue.

Credits

Paul Christian Kirchner, Nuremberg Jews, from Jüdisches Ceremoniel. Paul Christian Kirchner, “Die Copulation,” from Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Nürnberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1724), p. 180. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Page with Hebrew text of decorative border and Star of David located in bottom section, with signatures in the Roman alphabet below.
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Two-panel drawing, the top of many people in interior room, some seated on right side under canopy, and the bottom of many people outside with a central figure with veil.
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