Acknowledgements in Max Stern's Dissertation

Max Stern, Johann Peter Langer; sein Leben und sein Werk. Bonn: Kurt Schroeder, 1930.

(Acknowledgements on p. 2):

On the occasion of the Centennial Exhibition of Rhenish painting I received the inspiration for the present work from Professor Dr. Koetschau, to whom I owe thanks for his constant readiness to help. Its further elaboration corresponds to the particular wishes of Privy Councillor Dr. Paul Clemen. At this point I sincerely wish to thank him for his extensive support and great interest he always showed in my work. In addition, I thank Dr. W. Cohen, P. Horn, and Dr. A. Seyler for their kind support and expert information.


This is the publication of Max Stern's doctoral dissertation at Bonn University, from which he graduated with a Dr. Phil. in 1928. It was published in 1930 in two versions, one naming him as the author on the title page (with the plates all together at the end of the book), the other without naming the author (with the plates distributed throughout the book).

Karl Theodor Koetschau (1868-1949), art historian, was a friend of Max Stern's father Julius and Max Stern's mentor. He was the director of the municipal art collections of Düsseldorf and an honorary professor in Bonn at the time. After Koetschau's retirement from his museum post in Berlin in 1936, Max was to acquire his library and, in 1937, to try to appoint Koetschau as the director of his late father's gallery, Galerie Julius Stern in Düsseldorf while he went into exile in London.


Paul Clemen (1866-1947), art historian, was a professor at Bonn University and Max Stern's thesis advisor. He was a friend of Koetschau and Cohen. He was later to provide the connection to Tancred Borenius (editor of Burlington Magazine, Dean of Art History at London University), who was one of Stern's guarantors in England.

Walter Cohen (1880-1942), art historian, was a friend and associate of both Koetschau and Clemen.

When Koetschau suggested Johann Peter Langer (1756-1824) as a topic, he knew of only two paintings by this academic painter. Within three years, after travelling for research to Munich and elsewhere, Max Stern was able to assemble a catalogue of over 300 works