DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28460#0485
436
Early German and Flemish Woodcuts.—Part II.
and a pen, with the date 1528 to r. The whole background behind the
stem o£ Jesse is shaded with horizontal lines, only interrupted by the
rays that proceed from Christ ancl from the Dove. Double border.
[280 x 189.] Yery sharp, early proof; t.he space [194 x 90] cut out to receive a
priuted title is left blauk. Watermark, a srnall bull’s head, with a flower on a stalk
between tlie horns.
In the inventory of 1837.
This fine aud important cut is of the utmost rarity and almost unknown (see
Repertorium, xx, 207). There is a similar proof at Erlangen, much damaged, with the
monogram cut off. The woodcut has been wrongly described by Nagler, on the
authority of J. M. Schottky, as a drawing, said to have been used on the title-page of a
MS. of the Gospels in the Boliemian language. It was used, in fact, not on the title-
page, but at the beginning of St. Matthew’s Gospel, in two Bohemian Bibles printed at
Prague by Paul Seweryn in 1529 and 1537. The public library at Prague possesses
a copy of each (54. A. 13, 14, the 1529 edition coloured), and they are described by
B.. K. Ungar in his “Allgemeine bohmische Bibliothek,” Prague, 1786. Schottky
evidently gave a liberal interpretation to the word “ Federzeichnung,” and reproduced
the woodcut for the sake of the design. The cutting of all the lines, and especially of
the inscriptions, is so delicate that an inexperienced person might mistake a proof of
the woodcutfor a drawing, but Schottky, who reproduced tlie wliole of the printed page,
cannot have been under this delusion. The words which he quotes, (K) “Nyha- rodu
Gezysse Krysta, syna Davidowa, syna Abrahamowna,” are, of course, not the title of
the book, but the opening words of St. Matthew’s Gospel.
34. PART OF A PEDIGREE OF THE HOUSE OF WITTELSBACH.
Half-length figures of princes and princesses of the Bavarian house
are arranged in four rows. In the top row are two persons only,
an elector and his wife; in each of the lower rows are six persons, none
of whom are named. Single borders at top and bottom, not at the sides,
for the pedigree should be continued in both directions.
[417 X 333.] Late impression, on yellowisli paper, from the block in the Derschau
collection (Becker, B 31, attributed to Burgkmair).
Purchased, 1834.
I have never seen an early impression of this woodcut, and its style cannot be fairly
jiulgod by the moJern impressions, but the resemblance to Schon’s Tree of Jesse is
noticeable even in these. I was confirmed in my opinion that the work is to be
attributed to him by the discovery, at Coburg, of an early impression of another block
belonging to the same pedigree. In this sharp, early print Schdn’s handiwork is
unmistakable. The figures there are accompanied by xylographic inscriptions, by
which they are identified as members of the Bavarian house in the xiv and early xv
centuries, including Ruprecht. King of the Romaus (1352-1410), Johann (1383-1443),
Stephau (1385-1459), Otto (1390-1461), Christoph, King of Denmark (1416-144S), and
others; in all twenty-three persons, viz., four in tlie first row, seven in tlie second, and
six in each of the others.
35. A GENERAL AND A TURK.
A German general 1., in a low wide-brimmed hat trimmed with
feathers, is engaged in conversation with a Turk r. armed with bow and
arrows and a sabre, and carrying a shield slung over his back. They
stand between two columns in front of a gateway cut square, having a
round arch over it witli a solid tympanum on which are the arms of the
empire with lions as supporters. A few plants and tufts of grass are
seen through the opening. Single border.
[158 x 120.] Late impression, worn and stained, on coarse paper.
In the iuventory of 1837.
The cut appears to date from about 1530. It was probably designed to illustrate a
Early German and Flemish Woodcuts.—Part II.
and a pen, with the date 1528 to r. The whole background behind the
stem o£ Jesse is shaded with horizontal lines, only interrupted by the
rays that proceed from Christ ancl from the Dove. Double border.
[280 x 189.] Yery sharp, early proof; t.he space [194 x 90] cut out to receive a
priuted title is left blauk. Watermark, a srnall bull’s head, with a flower on a stalk
between tlie horns.
In the inventory of 1837.
This fine aud important cut is of the utmost rarity and almost unknown (see
Repertorium, xx, 207). There is a similar proof at Erlangen, much damaged, with the
monogram cut off. The woodcut has been wrongly described by Nagler, on the
authority of J. M. Schottky, as a drawing, said to have been used on the title-page of a
MS. of the Gospels in the Boliemian language. It was used, in fact, not on the title-
page, but at the beginning of St. Matthew’s Gospel, in two Bohemian Bibles printed at
Prague by Paul Seweryn in 1529 and 1537. The public library at Prague possesses
a copy of each (54. A. 13, 14, the 1529 edition coloured), and they are described by
B.. K. Ungar in his “Allgemeine bohmische Bibliothek,” Prague, 1786. Schottky
evidently gave a liberal interpretation to the word “ Federzeichnung,” and reproduced
the woodcut for the sake of the design. The cutting of all the lines, and especially of
the inscriptions, is so delicate that an inexperienced person might mistake a proof of
the woodcutfor a drawing, but Schottky, who reproduced tlie wliole of the printed page,
cannot have been under this delusion. The words which he quotes, (K) “Nyha- rodu
Gezysse Krysta, syna Davidowa, syna Abrahamowna,” are, of course, not the title of
the book, but the opening words of St. Matthew’s Gospel.
34. PART OF A PEDIGREE OF THE HOUSE OF WITTELSBACH.
Half-length figures of princes and princesses of the Bavarian house
are arranged in four rows. In the top row are two persons only,
an elector and his wife; in each of the lower rows are six persons, none
of whom are named. Single borders at top and bottom, not at the sides,
for the pedigree should be continued in both directions.
[417 X 333.] Late impression, on yellowisli paper, from the block in the Derschau
collection (Becker, B 31, attributed to Burgkmair).
Purchased, 1834.
I have never seen an early impression of this woodcut, and its style cannot be fairly
jiulgod by the moJern impressions, but the resemblance to Schon’s Tree of Jesse is
noticeable even in these. I was confirmed in my opinion that the work is to be
attributed to him by the discovery, at Coburg, of an early impression of another block
belonging to the same pedigree. In this sharp, early print Schdn’s handiwork is
unmistakable. The figures there are accompanied by xylographic inscriptions, by
which they are identified as members of the Bavarian house in the xiv and early xv
centuries, including Ruprecht. King of the Romaus (1352-1410), Johann (1383-1443),
Stephau (1385-1459), Otto (1390-1461), Christoph, King of Denmark (1416-144S), and
others; in all twenty-three persons, viz., four in tlie first row, seven in tlie second, and
six in each of the others.
35. A GENERAL AND A TURK.
A German general 1., in a low wide-brimmed hat trimmed with
feathers, is engaged in conversation with a Turk r. armed with bow and
arrows and a sabre, and carrying a shield slung over his back. They
stand between two columns in front of a gateway cut square, having a
round arch over it witli a solid tympanum on which are the arms of the
empire with lions as supporters. A few plants and tufts of grass are
seen through the opening. Single border.
[158 x 120.] Late impression, worn and stained, on coarse paper.
In the iuventory of 1837.
The cut appears to date from about 1530. It was probably designed to illustrate a