Goethe's many hats

At the age of 26, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe started working at the court in Weimar and became a minister under Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. His tasks included overseeing the mining industry and managing the bureaus for road-building and war. In an effort to cut costs and get rid of debt he halved the size of the military.

From his time as a minister to the end of his life, Goethe lived in this garden house in Weimar. Grand Duke Karl-August was not just his employer, but his friend for 53 years. They didn't agree on everything, however. Known for being strong-willed, Goethe tested their friendship by suddenly leaving on long journeys. Karl-August gave Goethe a noble title in 1782 - which added the "von" to his name.

Goethe had plenty to do at the court in Weimar, though the work didn't quench his thirst for knowledge. He spent time exploring the fields of geology, botany, mineralogy, and osteology. Later, he took an interest in plant metamorphosis and was a pioneer in morphology, which is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.

When Goethe got tired of his work as a minister, he picked up and went to Italy for two years in 1786. There he developed an interest in the antiquity and the Renaissance. In letters from Italy, he spoke of feeling "reborn" and experienced a "new youth." Inspired by Italy, he worked on plays like "Iphigenia in Tauris," "Egmont" and "Torquato Tasso."

Goethe loved flowers in general and mallows in particular. Although he never visited England, he was fascinated by English landscaping and implemented some techniques from the island in the Park an der Ilm in Weimar. The Roman House, pictured here, was inspired by Goethe's time in Italy. He oversaw the initial phase of its construction.

Pictured is Christiane Vulpius, Goethe's mistress who would later become his wife. She was of simple means and Goethe's mother called her "Bettschatz," or "bed darling." She provided the inspiration for the poet's "Roman Elegies," 24 erotic poems that were much too scandalous for Weimar. Influenced by ancient poets and true to form, the elegies also marked Goethe's emancipation as an author.

Goethe spent over 20 years as an artistic director, first at the Liebhabertheater at the Weimar court and later at the newly founded Weimar Hoftheater. Early on, he would perform himself in the plays - occasionally with his friend, Karl-August. Later, the Hoftheater became one of the most important stages in German-speaking Europe.

Goethe and Schiller were both freethinkers. At the beginning, Schiller called Goethe "a cold egotist," while Goethe spoke of a "failed meeting" with his colleague. And yet, they couldn't do without each other and went on to jointly develop the literary approach that is known as Weimar Classicism. Goethe later wrote that Schiller had made him a poet again.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent 20 years considering the essence of color. In 1810, he published his own theory of color in two comprehensive volumes and diagrams. Viewing it as an affront to science, the academic world wasn't interested in the publication, which disappointed Goethe. However, the work was later valued by philosophers.

Goethe was not only inspired by Italy and the antiquity. He also studied Arabic and Persian and read the Koran and the works of well-known Persian poet and mystic Hafez. Winning creative energy from the newly discovered cultures, Goethe produced his largest collection of poetry, "The West-Eastern Divan," in 1819.

To what extent is Goethe's masterpiece "Faust" autobiographical? The author and his protagonist are both searching for the thread that holds the world together. The scholar Faust is confronted with greed, desire, failed relationships, magic, guilt, faith, divine forgiveness, salvation and much more. And Goethe…?