Athens, paris, rome, vienna, jerusalem, venice, prague, munich, nuremberg, florence, and many others, plus 143 illustrations of figures and decorative objects. The woodcut illustrations for this edition were executed by michael wolgemut, willhelm pleydemwurff and their workshop. Leaf from circa 1493 nuremberg chronicle with woodcuts. Dance of skeletons michael wolgemut, 1493 inter antiquariaat. The nuremberg chronicle and the history of the world scihi. Consists of 610 folio pages with 645 woodcut engra. God the father enthroned by wolgemut, michael in the web gallery of art, a searchable image collection and database of european painting.
The nuremberg chronicle is one of the most celebrated illustrated books of the. Nuremberg chronicle wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Wolgemut and wilhelm pleydenwurff were first commissioned to provide the illustrations in 14871488, and a further contract of 29 december 1491 commissioned manuscript layouts of the text and illustrations. Hartmann schedel and recounts the history of the world. The nuremberg chronicle liber chronicarum was published in. The nuremberg chronicle, written by hartmann schedel with woodcut illustrations by the michael wolgemut workshop, represented and still maintains a monumental position in the history of the printed book as one of the most profoundly illustrated texts of its time. Hartmann schedel and recounts the history of the world from creation to the. It contains 1809 woodcuts produced from 645 blocks. The nuremberg chronicle is an illustrated biblical paraphrase and world history that follows the. The chronicle is one of the seventyfive books that he donated to the.
Its background, its provenance, its creators, its patrons. The illustrations, created from woodcuts by michael wolgemut and. The text is a universal history of the christian world from the beginning of times to the early 1490s, written in latin by the nuremberg physician. He was head of a large workshop which produced altarpieces, memorial pictures, portraits and designs for glass paintings. It was the illustrator and engraver michael wolgemut who conceived the idea of preparing a profusely illustrated world history. Even before durer departed on his wanderjahre in 1490, michael wolgemuts workshop was producing the most extensively illustrated book of the fifteenth century, the liber chronicarum, or nuremberg chronicle. City views and decorations from the nuremberg chronicle hartmann schedel, carol belanger grafton, michael wolgemut perhaps the most elaborately illustrated book of the 15th century, the nuremberg chronicle ranks with the gutenberg bible in terms of its magnificent craftsmanship and unsurpassed excellence. The nuremberg chronicle dates back into the incunabula times of book printing.
Michael wolgemut german, 14341519 or wilhelm pleydenwurff. Michael wolgemut and wilhelm pleydenwurif were the principal artists contracted to create the engravings for the book and while each was a prominent artist in their own right, they are probably best remembered for their contributions to the nuremberg chronicle. The most elaborate book created by koberg was the nuremberg chronicle of 1493. But, as usual in these early times of printing, woodcuts as e.
Anton kobergs firm operated twentyfour presses and employed a hundred editors, proofreaders, and typesetters. Written in latin by hartmann schedel, with a version in german, translation by georg alt, it appeared in 1493. The liber chronicarum, a universal history compiled from older and contemporary sources by the nuremberg doctor, humanist, and bibliophile hartmann schedel 14401514, is one of the most densely illustrated and technically advanced works of early printing. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Registrum huius operis libri cronicarum cum figuris et. The nuremberg chronicle is an illustrated biblical paraphrase and world history that follows the story of human history related in the bible. Rare liber chronicarum nuremberg chronicles youtube. The large workshop of nuremberg s leading artist of the time, michael wolgemut provided the unprecedented 1,809 woodcut illustrations.
The nuremberg chronicle is an illustrated biblical paraphrase and world history following the story of human history in the bible, including the histories of a number of important western cities. The nuremberg chronicle and the history of the world. It is one of the bestdocumented early printed books an incunabulumand. First and only latin edition of the most fully realized illustrated book of. From liber cronicarum nuremberg chronicle by hartmann schedel, 1493. Schedel nuremberg chronicle liber chronicarumdance of skeletons death.
The image of death from liber chronicarum nuremberg chronicle written by hartmann schedel and illustrated by. Titled in latin, liber chronicarum book of chronicles was published in. Extra illustratd with 2 leaves from the first latin edition form. The nuremberg entrepreneur sebald schreyer and his brotherinlaw, sebastian kammermeister, financed the production of the book. Leaf from the nuremberg chronicle by schedel, hartmann and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Cclxii of the book the nuremberg chronicle liber chronicarum nuremberg. It is one of the bestdocumented early printed booksan incunabulumand one of the first to successfully integrate illustrations and text. Hartmann schedel, a nuremberg physician who had studied at the universities of leipzig and padua. Illustrator, michael wolgemut and wilhelm pleydenwurff. This is the famous, macabre scene from schedels description of the seventh age yet to come, or the reign of the antichrist. In may of 1493 appeared in the latin language one of the earliest voluminous books, fully illustrated with 1809 woodcuts printed from 645 woodblocks. This first edition by nuremberg chronicle, hartmann schedel is available at bauman rare books.
Woodcut within a printed book, handcolored after printing, each page 18. The nuremberg chronicle or, the book of chronicles from the beginning of the world, the most famous of german picture books of the fifteenth century, printed in the free city of nuremberg in 1493. Michael wolgemut, for hartmann schedels nuremberg chronicle published in 1493. The illustrations in the nuremberg chronicle were not only its most important selling point, they were actually the reason for its being. The nuremberg chronicle, first latin edition, michael wolgemut. Michael wolgemut, wilhelm pleydenwurff, and others, germany, nuremberg, anton koberger, 12 july 1493 first edition. Printed at tryst press as a keepsake for attendees of a. The gathering of the angels recto, pages three and two from the treasury schatzbehalter, 1491 michel wolgemut the virtues of christ and the wickedness of his enemies symbolized by diverse birds and beasts verso. Michael wolgemut at the detroit institute of arts, michigan a young man, 1486 fine arts museums of san francisco new. While some art experts may claim to be able to identify which nuremberg chronicle woodcuts may be attributed to durer, there is no consensus. At the end of the 15th century, the new industry of book printing reached its zenith in nuremberg, germany. The famous biblioclast otto ege offered leaves of the nuremberg chronicle in his portfolio original leaves from famous booksin 1949. The nuremberg chronicle, a 1493 history of the world, contains some of the most beautiful woodcuts ever designed. The text of the nuremberg chronicle was prepared by dr.
A milestone in the history of publishing, the nuremberg chronicle liber. City views and decorations from the nuremberg chronicle dover pictorial archive grafton, carol belanger on. Wolgemut and his shop produced hundreds of designs for illustrated books such as the nuremberg chronicle of 1493. Lee library, brigham young university, march 30, 2007. Hartmann schedel german, nuremberg 14401514 nuremberg artist. Imago mortis, woodcut by michael wolgemut, for hartmann schedels nuremberg chronicle published in 1493. Registrum huius operis libri cronicarum cum figuris et ymagibus ab inicio mundi author. Wolgemut ran a wellknown and respected artists workshop in nuremberg and he himself. An encyclopedia of world history and geography as known in the late fifteenth century. Michael wolgemut, wilhelm pleydenwurff, and worshop. Albrecht durer, kobergers godson, was apprenticed to michael wolgemut between 1486 and 1489 and it has been suggested by some scholars that he worked on the designs.
Scholars seeking to identify illustrations that might have been contributed by durer. Written in latin by hartmann schedel, with a version in german, translation by georg alt, i. Michael wolgemut german, nuremberg 14341519 nuremberg. He is best known as having taught the young albrecht durer. The woodcuts were produced by michael wolgemut, durers teacher, and by. The artists, michael wolgemut, the wellknown teacher of albrecht durer, and his stepson, wilhelm pleydenwurff have been praised and admired for over fivehundred years for their contributions to one of the monuments of early printing. Sixthpage 16th wood cut and two 2 vignette woodcuts by michael wolgemut published in the liber chronicarum book of chronicles nuremberg, 1493. Liber chronicarum first edition nuremberg chronicle. Oct 31, 20 even worse, you may follow the sounds of music and laughter, and stumble upon a band of skeletons rising from the dead to perform the dance of death, as depicted in this 15th century woodcut illustration, the seventh age of the world.
The importance of wolgemut as an artist rests not only on his own individual works, but also on the fact that he was the head of a large. Liber chronicarum registrum huius operis libri cronicarum. Michael wolgemut 14341519 who became the first noted book illustrator. Both editions are lavishly illustrated with 1804 xylographical images created from 641643 woodblocks by the nuremberg artists michael wolgemut circa 143437 1519 and wilhelm pleydenwurff circa 1450 1494, a map of the world, showing the gulf of guinea discovered by the portuguese in 1470, and a map of northern and central europe by hieronymus munzer circa 14371447 1508. Anton koberger, 1493 by michael wolgemut, hartmann schedel, anton koberger 1493. The nuremberg chronicle, first latin edition, michael. A drawing by wolgemut for the elaborate frontispiece, dated 1490, is in the british museum. Many works online louvre museum graphic art database, paris in french metropolitan museum of art timetable of art history liber chronicarum nuremberg chronicle national gallery of art, washington d. The nuremberg chronicle is one of the most densely illustrated and technically. Latin scholars refer to it as liber chronicarum book of chronicles as this. Liber chronicarum nuremberg chronicle single folio by. Michael wolgemut and his soninlaw wilhelm pleydenwurff executed the illustrations in around 1490, a time when their workshop was at its artistic peak and.
Liber chronicarum registrum huius operis libri cronicarum cum figuris et ymagibus ab inicio mundi. Schedel compiled his chronicle of events from books he had used as a student, many of which he doubtless had in his own library. The nuremberg entrepreneur sebald schreyer and his brotherinlaw, sebastian. The liber chronicarum by hartmann schedel printed in nuremberg by anton koberger in 1493, or nuremberg chronicle as it is generally called, is one of the most important german incunables and the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century. Wolgemut also wohlgemuth worked mainly in nuremberg. The book, which was created on commission from nuremberg merchants sebald schreyer 14461520 and sebastian kammermeister. Michel wolgemut the fall of lucifer and the rebel angels verso. The nuremberg chronicle is regarded as the most richly illustrated incunable and the biggest book venture in the era of durer. Michael wolgemut german, 14341519, linea pontificu, woodcut, page opening folio xxvi.
500 902 1384 816 1169 428 1546 177 1085 1437 59 326 556 1179 651 294 1301 135 1457 402 463 945 1049 1297 1078 1168 1377 453 775 792 959 695 826 310 650 1427 1142 205 515