Adalbert Stifter Commemorative Plaque
Schulgasse 9
Schulgasse 9
Stifter was born in 1805 in Oberplan (today Horní Planá, Czech Republic) and grew up in modest circumstances. His first publications (typical Biedermeier novellas) were published first in journals, and then in the Studies (Studien, 1842 - 47) and Colourful Stones (Bunte Steine, 1853) anthologies.
In recent years, Stifter has become one of the most interesting authors of the 19th century, and his works have been translated into Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. Among his best-known works are The Condor (Der Condor), Abdias, High Forest (Hochwald), Brigitta, Limestone (Kalkstein) and Tourmaline (Turmalin), Indian Summer (Der Nachsommer), The Forest Path (Der Wandsteig), Rock Crystal (Bergkristall) and the historical novel Witiko. Again and again, dangerous natural phenomena (thunderstorms, fires, and snowstorms) play a major role in his texts, for example in the story My Greatgrandfather’s Portfolio (Die Mappe meines Urgroßvaters).
Stifter was not only a poet, but also an essayist, a restorer and an art conservator (Stifter initiated and led the restoration work of the famous Kefermarkt altarpiece) and also made significant contributions as a state school inspector.
Reference to Ischl
Before his literary attempts, which later made him famous, Stifter painted landscape views of the Salzkammergut. As a school inspector, he repeatedly visited the area’s schools, but he was unfortunately unsuccessful with the schools in Bad Ischl, because at the end of August, those schools were closed due to summer holidays!
"Am 31. August besah ich die Schule in Ischl, wo aber die Kinder Ferien hatten, weshalb ich mich nur auf eine Besprechung mit dem Lehrer und Gehilfen über die Art ihres Unterrichtes und ... wie derselbe ... auf das praktischste ins Werk gesetzt werden könnte, beschränkte."
