1493 – H. Schedel – CXLI

Titles: “CXLI” Description: A pivotal leaf from Hartmann Schedel’s Latin edition of the “Liber chronicarum,” published in Nuremberg in 1493 — one of the historically richest pages in the entire book, recounting both the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire and the death of philosopher Boethius. Folio CXLI opens with the Byzantine emperors Zeno (“Zeno”) and his successor Anastasius I (“Anastasius”), portrayed in the Chronicle’s “Linea Imperatorum.” The text then turns to Italy, where it recounts how Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, dating the event to roughly 475/476 AD and stating outright that with this the empire of the Romans at Rome came to an end — the Chronicle’s explicit marker for the fall of Rome. Odoacer (“Odeacer rex”) is shown ruling Italy for over a decade until his defeat by Theodoric the Ostrogoth (“Theodoricus rex”), illustrated with a woodcut of the two kings together. The account continues into Theodoric’s 37-year reign from Ravenna, describing his restoration of Rome’s buildings and public spectacles and his dynastic marriages, including his own sister to the Vandal king and his daughters to the Visigothic and Burgundian royal houses. The verso opens with an earthquake at Constantinople and a striking celestial omen — a comet over Toulouse, illustrated with its own dramatic woodcut of a blazing star — before turning to the Archangel Michael’s revelation at Monte Gargano (“Michaelis reuelatio”), shown wielding sword and scales, and the bishop-scholar Epiphanius of Pavia. The heart of the page belongs to Boethius (“Boetius”), the Roman senator and philosopher, recounting his imprisonment and eventual execution under Theodoric on suspicion of treason, his authorship of De consolatione philosophiae and other philosophical works, and his invention of a stringed instrument still in use “in modern times,” per the text. His father-in-law Symmachus (“Symachus”), the Roman senator and orator, is shown alongside him — also executed by Theodoric on similar suspicion. The page closes with Fulgentius of Ruspe (“Fulgentius”), exiled by the Arian Vandal king for defending Catholic orthodoxy, and Gennadius of Marseille (“Gennadius”), continuator of Jerome’s “De viris illustribus.” Page number: CXLI Worth knowing about the book itself: almost none of the portraits are individual likenesses — the same “generic ruler” and “generic pope” woodblocks get recycled again and again throughout the Chronicle for whichever figure is being discussed. And the red-ink initials and headings are rubrication, added by hand after printing, which is typical for surviving copies. The Nuremberg Chronicles was the first printed history of the known world with about 2000 woodcuts the most picturesque work of the early time of printing. It became one of the most popular books of the 15th. century. The woodblock cutters were Michael Wolgemut, teacher of Albrecht Dürer and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. The printing was carried out under the supervision of the great scholar-printer Anton Koberger. Author: Hartmann Schedel (1440 – 1514) Sheet size: 43,3 x 31,3 cm Year: 1493 Technique: wood block Condition: In good condition. This is an original antique map published in 1493 and NOT a modern copy or reprint On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity