Destruccio Iherosolime

Coloured woodcut town view of Jerusalem. Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger in 1493.

Reference 11212

Description

Decorative coloured incunable double-leaf in folio showing the destruction of Jerusalem by Hartmann Schedel. From the famous Liber chronicarum or Nuremberg Chronicle in Latin edition published in 1493, the year that Columbus returned to Europe after discovering America. Leaf number LXXXVII.

Kreuer notes to this map:

This woodcut has relationships to the representation of the city of Jerusalem in the Palestine map by E. Reuwichs in the book by B. Breydenbach of the year 1486, Peregrinatio Terram Sanctam. In addition, parts and structures are based on the detailed Jerusalem view of the epitaph of Adelheid Tucher, Nuremberg. It was created in 1483 by the Master of the High Altar of Hersbrucker for installation in the Bamberg St. James Church. (Compare Hausherr, R., 1987/88, pp. 63 et seq). The topographical notations made by Schedel apparently by reference to the Reuwich map. Another source for the illustration and labeling is likely the work of Josephus, The Jewish War, especially Volume V. and VI. Schedel explicitly states: 'so you want to know it all, read Josephum' (fol. 63). Likewise, Schedel attention to Hieronymus. Given these sources, the authenticity of the view is beyond doubt.

The offered woodcut is one of the oldest authentic plans of Jerusalem and realistically the only large format 15th Century view obtainable to collectors.

The woodblock cutters were Michael Wolgemut, the well-known teacher of Albrecht Dürer, and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. Wohlgemut was Albrecht Dürer's tutor between 1486-90. Since the young Dürer was active in Wohlgemut's printer shop during the time the woodblock for the Nuremberg Chronicle have produced, he may also have collaborated, since some of the cuts bear a remarkably close resemblance to his Apocalypse illustrations.

Details

Cartographer	Hartmann Schedel
Title	Destruccio Iherosolime
Publisher, Year	Anton Koberger, Nuremberg, 1493
Plate Size	25.3 x 53.4 cm (10.0 x 21.0 inches)
Sheet Size	41.0 x 59.0 cm (16.1 x 23.2 inches)
Reference	Kreuer, W., Imago Civitatis, pp. 72-76

Condition

Worm traces in lower part around centrefold backed, centrefold with small binding holes backed. Later hand colouring, uncoloured on verso.

Cartographer

Hartmann Schedel was born 1440 in Nuremberg. He studied in Leipzig and Padua several disciplines also Physics, Medicine and Laws. Neither his social position nor his business made him famous, but his major work the so called Schedel's World Chronicle. The incunable was issued 1493 in Latin, followed by the German edition in the same year. It contains more than 1800 woodcuts out of Michael Wolgemut woodcut shop. Albrecht Dürer completed an apprenticeship with Wolgemut around 1490, so even Dürer may has worked on these woodcuts. Many of the illustrations showing cities the first time ever. In 1497 the Small Schedel was printed by Johann Schönsperger in Augsburg, a reduced version of the Nuremberg print also smaller in size. Schedel died 1514 in Nuremberg.

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Hartmann Schedel: Destruccio Iherosolime.

Coloured woodcut town view of Jerusalem. Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger in 1493.

Holy Land - Schedel, Hartmann - Destruccio Iherosolime