Lydia Escher
| Lydia Welti-Escher | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Lydia Escher-Welti by Karl Stauffer-Bern, Kunsthaus Zürich
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| Born |
Lydia Escher 10 July 1858 Zürich-Enge |
| Died | 12 December 1891 (aged 33) Genève-Champel |
| Monuments |
Gottfried Keller Stiftung Plaque by the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster at the Kunsthaus Zürich museum Lydia Welti-Escher Hof square in Zürich |
| Residence | Villa Belvoir |
| Nationality | Switzerland |
| Other names | Lydia Escher |
| Years active | 1874–1891 |
| Known for | Swiss Maecenas |
| Notable work | Gottfried Keller Foundation |
| Spouse(s) | Friedrich Emil Welti |
| Partner(s) | Karl Stauffer-Bern |
Lydia Welti Escher, (née Lydia Escher, 10 July 1858 in Zürich-Enge – 12 December 1891 in Genève-Champel) was a Swiss patron of the arts and the daughter of Augusta Escher-Uebel (1838–1864) and Alfred Escher (1819–1882), among others the founder of the Gotthardbahn. Lydia Escher was one of the richest women of Switzerland in the 19th century, patron of the arts and established the Gottfried Keller Foundation.
Lydia Escher was born into the Escher vom Glas family, an old and influential Zürich family dynasty, as daughter of Augusta Escher-Uebel (1838–1864) and Alfred Escher (1819–1882). A scandal surrounding Alfred Escher's immediate forebears had, however, damaged her family line's reputation. Hans Caspar Escher-Werdmüller (1731–1781) had fathered a child out of wedlock with a maidservant in 1765 and emigrated. His son Hans Caspar Escher-Keller (1755–1831) almost brought Zürich to financial ruin when he went bankrupt. Finally Alfred Escher's father Heinrich Escher (1776–1853) made a new fortune through speculative land deals and trading in Northern America. In 1814 Heinrich returned to Zürich and married Lydia Zollikofer (1797–1868) in May 1815, having two children, Clementine (1816–1886) and Alfred. In 1857 Alfred Escher married Augusta Escher-Uebel (1838–1864): Lydia was born in 1858, but her sister Hedwig (1861–1862) died while still a baby. Lydia's suicide on 12 December 1891 brought the end to Alfred Escher's family line.
Lydia Escher's grandfather Heinrich Escher had built the country house Belvoir on the left shore of Zürichsee in the then village of Enge, as of today a district of the city of Zürich, where Lydia grew up and lived. Heinrich Escher was able to devote himself fully to his passion for botany and his entomological collection, that also was cared by her father, and by Lydia. At the age of four years, Lydia lost her younger sister, and Lydia's mother died in 1864. So Alfred Escher was able to see his daughter several times a day, he rented for Lydia and her governess an apartment near his workplace in the city of Zürich. Since he is no longer married, Lydia is increasingly becoming also a close friend and started to support his work actively. Alfred Escher tried as often as possible to spend time with his daughter, and they maintained a cordial relationship.
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