Dietrich Meinardus (8 February 1804 – 5 January 1871) was a German sculptor and stonemason of the historicist movement, known for his works in Düsseldorf.
Life
Born in Ovelgönne in the Duchy of Oldenburg,Johann Josef Scotti: Die Düsseldorfer Maler-Schule, oder auch Kunst-Akademie in den Jahren 1834, 1835 und 1836, und auch vorher und nachher. Schreiner, Düsseldorf 1837, (Numerized) Meinardus' life and work remain largely under-researched.Helga Becker: Anton Josef Reiss (1835–1900). Leben und Werk. Dissertation an der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 2016. Tectum Verlag, Marburg 2017, , (Google Books, PDF) In 1848, he served as the executive sculptor for a monumental statue of Germania made of wood, cardboard, and canvas. The statue was designed by Düsseldorf painter Karl Ferdinand Sohn for the Fest der Deutschen Einheit (Festival for German Unity) which was held that year on August 6 at Friedrichsplatz in Düsseldorf.Friedrich Schaarschmidt: Zur Geschichte der Düsseldorfer Kunst, insbesondere im XIX. Jahrhundert. Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf 1902, . Along with painters from the Düsseldorf school of painting, Meinardus was one of the founding members of the progressive art association Malkasten, which they established on the night of the celebration.
Meinardus resided in Düsseldorf's Altstadt, and was a Protestant. In the early 1830s, he opened his sculpture workshop at 441 Bolkerstraße and advertised his several years of study at the Kunstakademie and the certificates he obtained from the academy.Anzeige D. Meinardus, Bildhauer, Bolkerstraße 441, in Düsseldorfer Zeitung (No. 114) from 13 May 1834 (No. 114)
Meinardus primarily focused on creating sacred art, particularly gravestones. He often collaborated with sculptors and architects who provided designs, such as Julius Bayerle and , both sculptors, and the architect Johannes Kühlwetter. Some of his works can be found in the . The prominent sculptural piece in the cemetery is the high cross, architecturally designed by Johannes Kühlwetter, executed by Meinardus, and adorned with figures of Christ and Mary by Götting and Bayerle respectively.Grabmäler auf dem Nordfriedhof. Abbildung Nr. 4. In Rheinische Post. retrieved 9 September 2021. This cross was erected in 1850Otto Schmitz: Der Golzheimer Friedhof. Ein Spaziergang über den alten Friedhof zu Düsseldorf. Verlag Traugott Bautz, Nordhausen 2004, [ Der Golzheimer Friedhof (PDF)] and was relocated to the Millionenhügel (Millionaires' Hill) of Düsseldorf North Cemetery in 1905 during the construction of Klever Straße, which cut through the cemetery at its original location. Another significant collaboration between Kühlwetter and Meinardus resulted in the 1843 Jesuit Monument, a communal grave featuring a stele in the form of a Neogothic pinnacle made of sandstone. It commemorates the clergy of the Society of Jesus which was active in Prussian Düsseldorf at the Church of St. Andreas.Jesuiten-Monument. Webseite im Portal der-golzheimer-friedhof-soll-leben.de, retrieved 9 September 2021.
Meinardus died in 1871 at the age of 66 in Düsseldorf. He was buried with his wife Luise, née Dallemscheid (1812–1868), in the Golzheim cemetery.
Following Meinardus' death, his workshop was taken up by his son Alexander Meinardus (23 July 1843 - 23 June 1891)Bildhauer. In Adreßbuch der Oberbürgermeisterei Düsseldorf für das Jahr 1876. . (Numerized) and later by his grandson Paul, who continued to sign under the name 'Dietrich Meinardus'.Under No. 3663 of the register of companies, the company "Meinardus" Bildhauerei with its registered office in Düsseldorf was registered today and the sculptor Paul Dietrich Meinardus was entered as its owner, Düsseldorf, 10 June 1896., in Düsseldorfer Volksblatt (No. 163) from 15 June 1896 Another grandson grandson of Meinardus, Siegfried (1874–1933), also went on to become a sculptor.Helmut Ebert: Deutsches Künstlerverzeichnis ab 1800. Selbstverlag, Münster 2011, . (Numerized)Meinardus, Paul Diether, Bildhauer, Inhaber der Firma D. Meinardus, Duisburger Straße 38; Meinardus, Siegfrid, Jülicher Straße 28, in Adreßbuch für die Stadtgemeinde Düsseldorf 1909,
References
Further reading Inge Zacher: Friedhofsanlagen und Grabmäler der kommunalen Friedhöfe. In Eduard Trier, Willy Weyres (ed.): Kunst des 19. Jahrhunderts im Rheinland. Vol. IV: Plastik. Schwann, Düsseldorf 1980, , .