print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1880,0710.882
- Description
-
The clergy feasting in the jaws of a devil; the demon seated, turned to left on a papal bull, its left foot in a vessel for Holy Water, and holding a collection box in its right hand. Smaller demons preparing food on its head, flying creatures approaching with the pope and a canon.
Woodcut
- Production date
- 1536 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 297 millimetres (block)
-
Height: 355 millimetres (sheet)
-
Width: 227 millimetres
-
Width: 275 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- The woodcut is not signed in the block, but the elaborate colouring on an impression of this print in Coburg is signed with the monogram of Matthias Gerung (see Walter L. Strauss, 'The German Single-Leaf Woodcut 1550-1600', New York, 1975, vol. I, p. 258, no. 5). Gerung's considerable skill at manuscript illumination is known from his illustrations in the bible for Count Ottheinrich von der Pfalz (see Brigitte Langer and Thomas Rainer (ed), 'Kunst und Glaube, Ottheinrichs Prachtbibel und die Schlosskapelle Neuburg', exhibition catalogue, Neuburg an der Donau, 2016).
For a discussion of the anti-Catholic subject of the print, see R.W. Scribner, 'For the Sake of Simple Folk: Popular Propaganda for the German Reformation', Cambridge 1981, p.89.
The monster is based on an earlier composition by Hieronymus Bosch; see Daan van Heesch, 'Paulus de Kempenaer and the political exploitation of Hieronymus Bosch' Simiolus 41 (2019) p. 36, fig. 33.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2017 Sept- Nov: London BM, G90a, Luther
- Acquisition date
- 1880
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1880,0710.882
