illustrated book;
print
- Museum number
- 1931,0618.9.1-44
- Description
-
'Das leben Jesu Christi gezogen auss den vier Euangelisten...' (Strasbourg, Johann Knobloch) 1508; book in German with 38 woodcuts by Hans Wechtlin depicting the Creation and Expulsion; the birth of the Virgin; presentation of the Virgin in the temple; Annunciation; Nativity; Circumcision; Adoration of the Magi; Presentation in the temple; Christ disputing in the temple; Baptism; calling of apostles Peter and Andrew and miracle at Cana; Christ preaching in the temple and sermon on the mount; raising of Lazarus and healing the sick; Christ eating with Simon the Pharisee and Mary Magdalene annointing his feet; entry into Jerusalem; Last Supper; arrest of Christ; Christ before Annas; Christ before Caiphas; Christ before Pilate; Flagellation; crowning of thorns; Ecce homo; Pilate washing his hands; Christ nailed to the cross; raising of the cross; Crucifixion (repeated); Lamentation; Entombment; Resurrection; Christ appears to the Virgin; Ascension; Pentecost; death of the Virgin; hell; crowing of the Virgin; and seven woodcuts by Urs Graf (signed VG), including the titlepage with Christ sending his disciples into the world; raising of Lazarus in landscape; the withered fig-tree; arrest of Christ; bearing the cross; Crucifixion with casting lots for Christ's robe; Crucifixion with centurion giving Christ vinegar. 1508
Woodcut and letterpress
- Production date
- 1508
- Dimensions
-
Height: 288 millimetres (approx sheet size)
-
Width: 218 millimetres (approx sheet size)
- Curator's comments
- In wood cover with clasps. Book is wanting three leaves of index and leaf AA1 with woodcut (Christ in Gethsemane) on verso.
This is the earliest dated publication with a series of woodcuts by Wechtlin. It is the largest series of his woodcuts appearing in any book, and no earlier prints by him are known. The woodcuts are unsigned but an edition of Chelidonius's 'Passion' (without date) which has 24 of the same prints, gives Wechtlin's name on the titlepage as the artist. According to Passavant altogether 43 woodcuts by Wechtlin, illustrating the Life of Christ and the Virgin are known, but the series appears nowhere in full. Seven woodcuts by Urs Graf, which also appear in 1506 Latin and German editions of Ringman's 'Passion.' The British Museum has a copy of the 1506 edition in German of Ringman's 'Passion,' and also the reprint from 1509. These contain the woodcuts by Graf and one print by Wechtlin of the Resurrection. (information compiled by Johann Schott).
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: 'Das leben Jesu Christi gezogen auss den vier Euangelisten...' (Strasbourg, 1508)
- Acquisition date
- 1931
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1931,0618.9.1-44