Hartmann Schedel/ Wohlgemut/ Pleydenwurff/Dürer - The...

Original incunabulum woodcut leaf CXLIIII (144) from the Nuremberg Chronicle of Hartmann Schedel, the first German edition from 1493. An incunabulum (cradle print) is a book printed in Europe before 1 January 1501, when the printing press was still in its infancy, and of which the text is set in movable type. They are now rarely seen on the market. The Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) by Hartmann Schedel is one of the most famous and best illustrated incunabula. The beautiful woodcuts were made by Michael Wohlgemut (1434/37-1519) and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (1450-1494), a teacher of Albrecht Dürer. Dürer probably also contributed to the execution of many of the woodcuts for this incunabulum. The beautifully coloured woodcuts of folio CXLIIII on the recto side show 3 beautiful illustrations: 1. Benedict is depicted in a full-length woodcut, wearing a cap and voluminous habit, holding a crosier in his right hand and a book in his left. On the book rests a poisoned cup with a serpent inside. 2. The Monastery of Cassino is depicted. 3. Scholastica; a Sister of Benedict. On the verso side five popes are shown: Boniface, lohannes, Agapitus, Pope Silverius and Pope Vigilius. This is not a facsimile edition, but an original leaf printed in the 15th century - so 533 years old! Rare in coloured version. Dimensions: 43 x 29,5 cm Good condition, a few spots, small cut with old restoration.

Estimate:£127.08

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