DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28460#0040
24
Earhj German and Flemish Woodcuts.
Strassburg.
Mentz.
Liibeck.
Spires.
Bamberg.
Wiirzburg.
The Netlier-
lands.
General
remarks on
early illus-
trations.
Diirer, one imclisputed illustration by whom was publislied at Basle,
in Kesler’s edition of St. Jerome’s Epistles, in 1492.
Strassburg produced numerous illustrations before 1490, but
nothing of real importance till Griininger began to publisli woodcuts
in 1496. The illustrations in Griininger’s books belong to the time
of transition to xvi century art, and tlie best of tbem, tbe Yirgil
cuts, were not publisbed till 1502. Tbey are all in tbe peculiar
style of the Alsatian school, influenced by Martin Scbongauer.
Mentz is cbiefly remarkable for one of tbe finest books of tbe
xv century, Breydenbacb’s Travels to the Holy Land, illustrated
and printed by Erhard Keuwicb in 1486. In tbe frontispiece
of tbis book cross-hatching makes its first appearance. Tbe most
noticeable of tbe otber early Mentz books is Botbo’s Saxon Gbronicle,
printed by Peter Scboffer in 1492.
Of tbe many towns in various parts of Germany in wbicb only a
few books witb woodcuts appeared in tbe xv century, Liibeck ranks
bigbest with tlie splendid Low-German Bible printed by Stepban
Arndes in 1494. It excels tlie best of its predecessors, tbe Cologne
Bible, as mucli as tbe latter does tbe early Bibles of Pflanzmann,
Zainer, and Sorg at Augsburg, and of Sensensclimidt and Ivoberger
(1481) at Nuremberg.
I may mention also tbe liturgical books printed by Peter Dracb
at Spires, ancl Sensensclimidt at Bamberg. Tbe latter, followed by
Pfeyl, was one of the cbief printers of missals before Erbard Katdolt
of Augsburg obtained sometliing like a monopoly of tbis brancli of
printing at tbe close of tlie century. Anotlier remarkable liturgical
printer was Georg Keyser of Wurzburg, wbo stood almost alone
among German printers of tbe xv century in using engraved plates
as illustrations.
The most important printers of illustrated books in tbe
Netherlands were Gerard Leeu at Gouda ancl Antwerp, Snellaert at
Delft, Bellaert at Haarlem, Pleerstraten at Louvain, and Peter van Os
at Zwolle. Sir W. M. Conway bas analysed tbe illustrated books of
tliese and otlier Low Country presses very tborougbly, and assigned
groups of cuts to definite wood-engravers wliose work lie bas been
able to trace tbrougb a number of years.
A few general remarks may be made in conclusion about tbe
average book-illustrations of the xv century. In books witb a large
number of cuts, of wliicli many editions were printed, sucb as tbe
Bible, tbe Plenarium, tbe Golden Legend, or Mancleville’s Travels, tlie
cycle of illustrations establisbed by tbe first edition (itself derived,
no doubt, from tbe precedent of some illustrated MS.) was rarely
Earhj German and Flemish Woodcuts.
Strassburg.
Mentz.
Liibeck.
Spires.
Bamberg.
Wiirzburg.
The Netlier-
lands.
General
remarks on
early illus-
trations.
Diirer, one imclisputed illustration by whom was publislied at Basle,
in Kesler’s edition of St. Jerome’s Epistles, in 1492.
Strassburg produced numerous illustrations before 1490, but
nothing of real importance till Griininger began to publisli woodcuts
in 1496. The illustrations in Griininger’s books belong to the time
of transition to xvi century art, and tlie best of tbem, tbe Yirgil
cuts, were not publisbed till 1502. Tbey are all in tbe peculiar
style of the Alsatian school, influenced by Martin Scbongauer.
Mentz is cbiefly remarkable for one of tbe finest books of tbe
xv century, Breydenbacb’s Travels to the Holy Land, illustrated
and printed by Erhard Keuwicb in 1486. In tbe frontispiece
of tbis book cross-hatching makes its first appearance. Tbe most
noticeable of tbe otber early Mentz books is Botbo’s Saxon Gbronicle,
printed by Peter Scboffer in 1492.
Of tbe many towns in various parts of Germany in wbicb only a
few books witb woodcuts appeared in tbe xv century, Liibeck ranks
bigbest with tlie splendid Low-German Bible printed by Stepban
Arndes in 1494. It excels tlie best of its predecessors, tbe Cologne
Bible, as mucli as tbe latter does tbe early Bibles of Pflanzmann,
Zainer, and Sorg at Augsburg, and of Sensensclimidt and Ivoberger
(1481) at Nuremberg.
I may mention also tbe liturgical books printed by Peter Dracb
at Spires, ancl Sensensclimidt at Bamberg. Tbe latter, followed by
Pfeyl, was one of the cbief printers of missals before Erbard Katdolt
of Augsburg obtained sometliing like a monopoly of tbis brancli of
printing at tbe close of tlie century. Anotlier remarkable liturgical
printer was Georg Keyser of Wurzburg, wbo stood almost alone
among German printers of tbe xv century in using engraved plates
as illustrations.
The most important printers of illustrated books in tbe
Netherlands were Gerard Leeu at Gouda ancl Antwerp, Snellaert at
Delft, Bellaert at Haarlem, Pleerstraten at Louvain, and Peter van Os
at Zwolle. Sir W. M. Conway bas analysed tbe illustrated books of
tliese and otlier Low Country presses very tborougbly, and assigned
groups of cuts to definite wood-engravers wliose work lie bas been
able to trace tbrougb a number of years.
A few general remarks may be made in conclusion about tbe
average book-illustrations of the xv century. In books witb a large
number of cuts, of wliicli many editions were printed, sucb as tbe
Bible, tbe Plenarium, tbe Golden Legend, or Mancleville’s Travels, tlie
cycle of illustrations establisbed by tbe first edition (itself derived,
no doubt, from tbe precedent of some illustrated MS.) was rarely