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16th and 17th Century Artwork
Throughout the page that follows, we have presented some special examples of illustrations from a variety of rare works from the 16th and 17th Century, including:
In many cases, these rare illustrations have contemporary or antique hand-colouring applied, but in some examples, they are shown just as they were first published - in an uncoloured state.
The Knight of Adventurous Thoughts
Theuerdank - literally translated as The Knight of Adventurous Thoughts - was one of three works commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I intended to chronicle his life. The other works were Der Weisskunig and Freydal. Of the three titles, Theuerdank was the only tale to be completed and published prior to his death.
Tradition suggests that the text to Theuerdank was written by one of the Emperor's close friends - Melchior Pfintzing. However, it is likely that much, if not all, the text was supplied by the Emperor himself. The tale tells a fictional version of the journey taken by the Emperor to meet his betrothed, Maria von Burgund (the daughter of the Emperor's knightly hero, Charles the Bold of Burgundy).
The 118 large illustrations to Theuerdank were a collaboration between at least three artists: Hans Burgkmair (1473-1531); Leonard Beck (1480-1542); and Hans Schäuffelein (1480-1540). Burgkmair contributed up to 14 designs for the woodblocks while the remainder were contributed by Beck and Schäuffelein.
Seel unnd heiligen Buch Kaiser Maximilians Altfordern Images of the Saints Connected to the Royal Family of Maximilian
Seel unnd heiligen Buch Kaiser Maximilians Altfordern consists of 123 woodcuts prepared in the 16th Century following a commission by Emperor, Maximilian I. While formerly thought to have been the exclusive work of Hans Burgkmair (1473-1531), the woodcuts are now variously attributed to: Burgkmair and an additional two artists closely associated with the Court of Maximilian, Leonard Beck (1480-1542) and Hans Schäuffelein (1480-1540); or to Beck exclusively. The carvers associated with these images worked as a group under Jost de Negker (also known as Jost Dienecker) in Augsberg in the Emperor's service.
Seel unnd heiligen Buch Kaiser Maximilians Altfordern is presented as an account of Maximilian's ancestry and is based on the literary work of Jacob Mennel (1470-1526).
The woodblocks for Seel unnd heiligen Buch Kaiser Maximilians Altfordern were used for extremely low volume pressings during the life of Maximilian. In the late-18th Century, Adam von Bartsch - a renowned scholar and author - secured the surviving 119 original woodblocks for a further pressing under the title Images de saints issus de la famille de l'Empereur Maximilien I by Franz-Xavier Stockl of Vienna. It is from that pressing that these images originate.
The White King
Der Weiß Kunig - literally translated as The White King - was prepared in the 16th Century in an apparent collaboration between at least four artists: Leonard Beck (1480-1542); Hans Burgkmair (1473-1531); Hans Schäuffelein (1480-1540); and Hans Springinklee (1490-1540). Jost de Negker (also known as Jost Dienecker) is among the artisans thought to have worked as engravers on the work. Also known as The Life and Reign of Emperor Maximilian I, Der Weiß Kunig purports to provide a chronicle of the life of the Emperor.
Der Weiß Kunig was written by Marx Treitzsaurwein following suggestions and dictation provided directly by Emperor Maximilian I. The allegorical styling of the Emperor as The White King arose from a variety of sources, including the clear symbolic correlations between 'white' and 'wisdom' and the traditional white harness Emperor Maximilian I carried in tournaments and battles. Other rulers are also represented allegorically throughout Der Weiß Kunig, including the King of France (The Blue King), the Duke of Milan (The King of the Worm - a reference drawn from the Milanese coat of arms), and the King of Hungary (The Green King).
The Origin and Deeds of the Goths
De rebus Gothorum was composed by the 6th Century identity, Jordanes, and claimed to summarized the now lost Libri XII De Rebus Gestis Gothorum written by Cassiodorus.
Jordanes' De rebus Gothorum was rediscovered in 1442 by the Italian humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini in Vienna and what is termed the editio princeps was issued by Konrad Peutinger in 1515. De rebus Gothorum is considered the only surviving source documenting the origin of the Goths. It is also important for its reference to a campaign in Gaul involving Riothamus - referred to as "King of the Brettones" - a possible source of inspiration for early Arthurian legends.
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