Kreutzberg's Menagerie - 1862

Wandering Menageries. - Kreutzberg's Menagerie. For the benefit of the young animal trainer Charles Kreutzberg. A large extraordinary performance in three parts, featuring the young 18-year-old lady from Sweden, who will appear in it for the penultimate time. (Frankfurt), printed by Theodor Wentz, April 25, 1862. A single-sheet print with woodcut (9 x 15 cm), showing the young Kreutzberg comfortably leaning against a lion. Print size: 36.5 x 21 cm. Rare poster for the guest appearance of Gottlieb Christian Kreutzberg's Wandering Menagerie (born 1810 or 1814 – 1874) in Frankfurt, advertising the appearance of his son with Cäcilie Nicolai from Stockholm. The woman generally described as the “young Swede,” Miss Nicolai, actually a native Dane, began her career as a singer and met Gottlieb Christian Kreutzberg during his tour in Russia. Kreutzberg engaged the young beauty and trained her as a wild-animal dompteuse. The “young Swede” became a box‑office magnet, but ended her career shortly after she was bitten on the arm by a hyena. – Here Charles Kreutzberg first seeks to win the audience’s favor with a number featuring three lions; afterward the “Young Swede” performs with a dwarf and then with elephants, a giant pair of elephants.