Authors: Meyer, Conrad F; Onderdelinden, Sjaak

Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (October 11, 1825, Zurich - November 28, 1898, Kilchberg near Zurich) draws inspiration for his numerous poems from the ideals of antiquity and the Renaissance. At the core is the pursuit of universality and balance as a response to a world perceived as negative. His father dies early, and conflicts with his mother, who opposes Meyer's artistic interests, weigh heavily on him. Lifelong depression forces him into recurring stays in sanatoriums.

Multiple travels take him to Italy, which captivates him greatly. In his best-known poem "The Roman Fountain," inspired by a fountain in the Villa Borghese park in Rome, Meyer stylizes a three-basin fountain into a symbol of eternal, cosmic equilibrium. His first novella "The Amulet" already showcases the characteristic connection of stylistic care, intense psychological characterization, and historical fidelity that defines Meyer’s work. His epic poem "Hutten's Last Days" tells the story of the knight, humanist, and church critic Ulrich von Hutten, who advocated for the Reformation. In the ballad "Feet in the Fire," he depicts the unplanned reunion of a tormentor with his victims. In 1880, Meyer was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Zurich.