Kreutzberg's Menagerie - 1862

Wandermenagerien. - Kreutzberg's Menagerie. For the benefit of the young animal trainer Charles Kreutzberg. Large extraordinary performance in three divisions, with the participation of the young 18-year-old lady from Sweden, who will appear there for the penultimate time. (Frankfurt), printed by Theodor Wentz, April 25, 1862. One-sheet print with woodcut (9 x 15 cm), showing the young Kreutzberg comfortably leaning against a lion. Print area: 36.5 x 21 cm.

Rare poster for the guest performance of Gottlieb Christian Kreutzberg's traveling menagerie (born 1810 or 1814 - 1874) in Frankfurt, where he advertises the appearance of his son together with Cecilia Nicolai from Stockholm. The lady generally referred to as the "young Swede", actually a Danish-born, began her career as a singer and met Gottlieb Christian Kreutzberg on occasion of his tour in Russia. Kreutzberg engaged the young beauty and trained her as a wild animal trainer. The "young Swede" became a box-office magnet, but ended her career soon after she was bitten on the arm by a hyena. - Here, first, Charles Kreutzberg seeks to win the audience's favor with a number featuring three lions, after which the "Young Swede" appears with a dwarf elephant and then with elephants of enormous size.