DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30697#0227
Mentz j 14S6\]
BREYDENBACH.
2IV
tliis impi'ession is embeliished. The part which lie took is thus described
by the author;—‘ Porro quo hanc meam profeetionem siue (ut aiunt)
reysam . vtilem non solum michi sed et alijs fidelibus facerem . et.
maxime generosorum clarorumue hominum animos in eam ipsam
magis magisque commouerem . operam nauaui quam exactam . vt
inter peregrinandum me de omixibus quae scitu necessaria dignaque
essent cognitum facerem certioi'em studiose singula perscrutando . nec
vllis parcendo expensis . Huius rei gratia ingeniosum et eruditum
pictorem Ekhardum scz Rewich de traiecto inferiori opere precium
duxi mecum assumere vti et feci . qui a veneciano portu et deinceps
potioi'um ciuitatum. quibus terre pelagique transitum applicare oportet.
pnesertim sacrorum in terra sancta locoi'um dispositiones . situs et
figuras . quoad inagis proprie fieri posset . artificiose effigiaret . trans-
ferretque in cartam opus visu pulcrum et delectabile . cui declai’atorias
notulas . vel latinas . vel vulgares feci per quendam alium doctum
virum ad votum meum apponi.* Quod quidem perfectum opus ,
impressorie artis amminiculo cunctis habere volentibus communican-
dum . vtinam atque vtinam . intento optatoque haud vacuum fructu
euadat .’ Fol, vi.
Clement seems to think that these drawings were done on the spot,.
The greater number of them probably were. All bibliographers however
unite in commendation of their spirit and elegance; although Brunet
has made a strange mistake in supposing that some of the larger views
of the towns were engraved upon copper.f The reader will soon
become acquainted with the degree of merit attached to some of these
cuts, by the ensuing fac-similes of them; wliich, while they afford no
trifiing embellishrnent to the present work, may be thought by some
to exhibit the inost interesting portion of the publication.
* From this, I submit that Rewich also printed the work; and that Breydenbacli em-
ployed an amanuensis, or ‘ learned person ’ to compose the text.
t The reader may be sceptical about their being engraved upon wood, from the extraor-
dinary size of some of thein. But it is clear that the mechanical cause of such an esfect as
is produced in these cuts, could riot be by means of metal. Such a conclusion seems self-
evident, on examining all the known impressions of early copper-plate engravings. Yet
if upon wood, of wliat size and nature must it have been ? The cuts are often folded,
and some of tliem are evidently formed of large parts ; but these parts are occasionally full
18 inches in length, and have letter press 011 the backs of tliem. An answer. of some
monrent, may be given, in referring the reader to the impression from the Original Bloch
of Wood at page viii of the first volume of tliis work. The wood of this block is pear-tree.
Heinecken admits that the French edition of this work, os the date of 1488, has the same
cuts as the above ; but that they are copied, and cut upon copper. This is extremely doubtsul,
if not inaccurate. Idee Generale, &c. p. 164.
BREYDENBACH.
2IV
tliis impi'ession is embeliished. The part which lie took is thus described
by the author;—‘ Porro quo hanc meam profeetionem siue (ut aiunt)
reysam . vtilem non solum michi sed et alijs fidelibus facerem . et.
maxime generosorum clarorumue hominum animos in eam ipsam
magis magisque commouerem . operam nauaui quam exactam . vt
inter peregrinandum me de omixibus quae scitu necessaria dignaque
essent cognitum facerem certioi'em studiose singula perscrutando . nec
vllis parcendo expensis . Huius rei gratia ingeniosum et eruditum
pictorem Ekhardum scz Rewich de traiecto inferiori opere precium
duxi mecum assumere vti et feci . qui a veneciano portu et deinceps
potioi'um ciuitatum. quibus terre pelagique transitum applicare oportet.
pnesertim sacrorum in terra sancta locoi'um dispositiones . situs et
figuras . quoad inagis proprie fieri posset . artificiose effigiaret . trans-
ferretque in cartam opus visu pulcrum et delectabile . cui declai’atorias
notulas . vel latinas . vel vulgares feci per quendam alium doctum
virum ad votum meum apponi.* Quod quidem perfectum opus ,
impressorie artis amminiculo cunctis habere volentibus communican-
dum . vtinam atque vtinam . intento optatoque haud vacuum fructu
euadat .’ Fol, vi.
Clement seems to think that these drawings were done on the spot,.
The greater number of them probably were. All bibliographers however
unite in commendation of their spirit and elegance; although Brunet
has made a strange mistake in supposing that some of the larger views
of the towns were engraved upon copper.f The reader will soon
become acquainted with the degree of merit attached to some of these
cuts, by the ensuing fac-similes of them; wliich, while they afford no
trifiing embellishrnent to the present work, may be thought by some
to exhibit the inost interesting portion of the publication.
* From this, I submit that Rewich also printed the work; and that Breydenbacli em-
ployed an amanuensis, or ‘ learned person ’ to compose the text.
t The reader may be sceptical about their being engraved upon wood, from the extraor-
dinary size of some of thein. But it is clear that the mechanical cause of such an esfect as
is produced in these cuts, could riot be by means of metal. Such a conclusion seems self-
evident, on examining all the known impressions of early copper-plate engravings. Yet
if upon wood, of wliat size and nature must it have been ? The cuts are often folded,
and some of tliem are evidently formed of large parts ; but these parts are occasionally full
18 inches in length, and have letter press 011 the backs of tliem. An answer. of some
monrent, may be given, in referring the reader to the impression from the Original Bloch
of Wood at page viii of the first volume of tliis work. The wood of this block is pear-tree.
Heinecken admits that the French edition of this work, os the date of 1488, has the same
cuts as the above ; but that they are copied, and cut upon copper. This is extremely doubtsul,
if not inaccurate. Idee Generale, &c. p. 164.