Suprise !

 Martinus Ursul Marie Gewin (1900 - 1976)

(obscured German artist born, lived, worked and died in Obermenzing near Munich) 

Although my active Blogging days are over, for sentimental reasons this special Xmas 2023 contribution. 

To my surprise I saw this humble Blog passed

1.000.000 visits !

eBay sometimes can be a real and unexpected treasure cove for those who are interested in art combined with history. Every day estates are being cleared, collections dissolved. Bundles of "old paper" are found in house clearings, in car boots and flea market. Interesting material surfaces, washing-up on the shores of history. 

Roaming eBay offers for interesting for my collection of woodblock prints by pioneering German women printmakers these stylised drawings of a typical Duch sailing ships probably seen in or near Rotterdam but surfacing a century later in Frankfurt-am-Main was what initially drew my attention.   

The small collection (a dozen pencil drawings) offered in eBay revealed some more interesting material including this 1920 pretty accurate drawing of the Hooge Brug in Overschie with the roof of the iconic "Vlasfabriek" in the background. 

Digging into the identity of the forgotten German artist, who happened to have Dutch aristocratic roots, the research ended (for now): 10 generations before in Merseburg near Leipzig in the beginning of the 17t. century. Although captain lieutenant Hans Christoffer left this world in a duel he managed to produce one son in his short marriage. This son's off-spring became rich dealing in cloth in Amsterdam, Rotterdam  and Leiden. The Gewins married into Dutch nobility, became pastors, scolars, manor owners, doctors and architects. And stayed faithful to their Dutch native city of Delden for three centuries. 

Ancestral lineage.  

2 Johan Christoph Gewin (Delden 1869 - 1942 Heidelberg) architect living Merzeburg and Heidelberg married 1: (ended in divorce): Olga Maria Diepold (b. Munich 1873 -?).  Married 2: Johanna Gezinena Stork (1875 - 1925). Married 3: 1930 Anna Cornelia Salm (b. the Hague 1900).

3 Dr. Marinus Gewin (Huissen 1839-1911) over 40 years working as physician in Delden married 1: Anna Salm (1842-1870)

4 Jan Christoffel Gewin (Rotterdam 1808-1887) married Justina Johanna Petronella van der Schooren (1802-1840)

5 Coenraad Gewin  (Amsterdam 1777 - 1831) married Anna Maria Ledeboer (1783-1840)

6 Jan Christoffel Gewin (Delden 1751-1808)  married Maria van der Port (1753-1815)

7 Coenraad Gewin (Delden 1705-1767) married  Elisabeth Werninck (1713-1765)

8 Johann Christoffer Gewin  (Delden 1674/87 - after 1743) married Maria Lentelinck (1671-1743)

9 Hans Christopher Gewin (Merseburg near Leipzig 13-10-1644 - before 1678). Married Ootmarsum 1674 Anna Sophia  Staverman, daughter of mayor Egbert Staverman. He served as captain.lieutenant in the“Regiment dragonders van de Heer Overst Berlepsch. Said to have been killed in a duel.  

10  Georg Gewin (ar. 1610 -1656), judge in Merseburg married Maria Benigna (1613-1661).

Martinus' father Johan Christoph was a Dutch architect who, after 8 generations re-immigrated from the Netherlands to Obermenzing starting his career, marriage and family. Remarried with a 30 year younger wife he lived from 1930 in Heidelberg. Martinus returned to the Netherlands as a young man to visit and draw and even came to live here for a while in the 1930's but eventually returned to Germany. 

For those interested in this artist: I passed the offers and the whole bunch is still "on offer". Among them are some interesting and artistic drawings of historic villas in Aerdenhout. 

Merry Xmas 2023 

(do visit my new website & collection: www.dashauserfrau.nl)