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The page deals with the creation
of nature and of Adam on the sixth day of Genesis.
Important woodcut with God the Father creating Adam from a lump of clay. The
nature on the right is depicted as a harmonious Eden with gentle animals.
The verso, entitled 'de sanctificatione septime diei', is about the blessing of
the seventh day following the fulfilment of creation.
The spectacular woodcut shows God the Father flanked by a hierarchy of angels,
listed on the left as Seraphim, Cherubim, Throni, Dominationes, Principatus,
Potestates, Virtutes, Archangeli, Angeli.
God the Father is enthroned above the geocentric model of the universe: The
earth appears at center, surrounded by the elements water, air and fire.
These are followed by the seven planetary spheres with the Moon, Mercury, Venus,
Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
Beyond the dome with the signs of the zodiac, followed by the crystalline heaven
and the Aristotelian ‘primum mobile’ – the largest and swiftest sphere, the
physical origin of life and motion.
The corners are adorned with winds called Subsolanus (E), Auster (S), Aparnas/Aparctias
(N) and Zephyrus (W).
Page from Hartmann Schedel's Liber Chronicarum, more commonly known as the
Nuremberg Chronicle. The Latin version was published in 1493 by Anton Koberger
in an edition of 2000 copies.
Michael Wolgemut (1434-1519) is credited as the woodblock cutter.
Beautiful late Gothic style.
Nuremberg, Latin edition, 1493 AD
Woodcut on laid paper
Page 43.4 cm (17.1 in) x 31.7 cm (12.5 in), page layout 37.7 cm (14.8 in) x 22.1
cm (8.7 in)
Clear print on laid paper. Paper lightly browned and fingerstained. Lower left
margin with small mounting.
480 USD |
Click above for larger
pictures -------- |