"IIII [Creation day 4 & 5]", Schedel, Hartmann

Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) was published in two editions, Latin and German, both in 1493, appearing in print just before Christopher Columbus' discoveries completely re-shaped the European view of the World. This splendid work presented the history of the world in a pictorial encyclopedia with approximately 285 pages of text and 1,800 woodcut illustrations. Among these illustrations are views of towns and cities throughout Europe and the Near East. The majority of these views are entirely imaginary. In fact, 49 of the views are actually printed from the same group of 14 woodblocks. There are also 30 double-page views of cities with more realistic images. In addition to the topographical images, there are an enormous number of other subjects, including diagrams of the Creation, comets, family trees, portraits & biblical scenes. The text was compiled and edited by Hartmann Schedel, printed by Anton Koberger, with illustrations designed by Michael Wohlgemuth and Willem Pleydenwurff, who cut the woodblocks, probably with the assistance of their apprentice, Albrecht Durer.

This wonderful plate presents the fourth and fifth of the days in the story of the Creation of the World from Genesis with an imaginative sense of design and symbolism. Each day is presented in a series of circular diagrams with the hand of God in the upper left corner. On the recto is a plate showing the thirteen symbolic rings of space containing the sun, moon and stars surrounding the earth. On the verso is the next day representing the creation of water and air, the birds and fish. On a full sheet of Latin text.

References:

Condition: C+

Some occasional foxing and toning. Numerous worms holes in left side of engraving and more in margin and left side of text. Printer's crease and tear within plate.