Liber Chronicarum

Die Schedelsche Weltchronik, or The Nuremberg Chronicle

 

The masterpiece of Hartmann Schedel, this book is among one of the most famous titles to have been created and is

known variously as Liber Chronicarum, Die Schedelsche Weltchronik and - in English - The Nuremberg Chronicle. Latin

scholars have referred to the book as Liber Chronicarum (Book of Chronicles) as that phrase appears liberally throughout

the index of the Latin edition, while the English speaking world knows the title as The Nuremberg Chronicle for the city

in which it was first published. In contrast, the German speaking world refers to the book as Die Schedelsche Weltchronik

in reference its author, Dr Hartmann Schedel.

 

The Chronicle is a magnificent work arising from the collaboration of figures from the German Renaissance - it was

compiled by Schedel with illustrations from artists included Michael Wohlgemuth, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff and Albrecht

Dürer and printed and published by Anton Koberger. Dürer is well known as a Renaissance Master, but his other

collaborators also personified the Renaissance. Schedel, for example, while gaining a place in history for his association

with the Chronicle, was earlier awarded a Master of Arts and studied Medicine before traveling to Italy where he wrote

a description of the region's antiquities. His interest in antiquities continued after he returned to Germany and he

established his own collection while practicing as a physician and acting as Bursar to the Cathedral and Diocese of

St Sebald. Wohlgemuth, too, had an established reputation as a painter and engraver prior to the publication of the

Chronicle and is known to be one of Dürer's artistic instructors. Pleydenwurff, similarly, was an established engraver at

the time that he contributed to the completion of the Chronicle. Koberger was the scion of a family that had governed

Nuremberg since it was established as an imperial city in 1219 and became Dürer's Godfather in 1471.

 

The raison d'être for the Chronicle was to provide an illustrated history of the World, beginning with God's creative

process and ending in the early 1490s. That history is presented in seven ages: from the Creation to the Deluge; to the

birth of Abraham; to King David; to the Babylonian captivity; to the birth of Christ; to the period immediately

preceding the publication of the Chronicle; and an outlook on the end of the World and the Last Judgment.

 

Up to 1500 copies of the Latin publications are believed to have been published, while as few as 700 of the German

copies are thought to have been produced. Of those, approximately 400 Latin and 300 German copies survive currently.

 

 

 

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints

 

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-in plates - in homage to the hand-crafted approach

typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century.

 

Hand-finishing is used to replicate the visual appearance of a tipped-in plate and the images are presented on Ivory card

stock (in the case of colour illustrations) or White card stock (in the case of monotone illustrations) with an accompanying

envelope. We have left the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

 

Should you wish to order Greeting Cards, Reproduction Prints or Posters from this suite of illustrations, we have provided

some options below. Ordering is as easy as selecting the "Add to Cart" feature below and following the prompts provided

with our Shopping Cart secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and

handling costs to any destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth

of purchases. Naturally, should you wish to discuss a customized purchase, we welcome your contact through

ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

 

In the meantime, however, enjoy perusing a selection of coloured images from Liber Chronicarum.

 

 

The Creation of the Heavens, the Earth, all the Creatures and Adam

Leaves 2-5 (II-V)

 

         

 

These leaves are from the first Latin edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

 

Across seven illustrations (one shown on each successive page), the illustrators to the Chronicle depict God's creation of

the Heavens, the Earth, all the Creatures and Adam.

 

 

Set of 7 Greeting Cards

Code: NC II-V CS(7)
Price: US$35.00

 

Set of 7 reproductions (each prepared on 12x18'' sheets)

Code: NC II-V P(7)
Price: US$420.00

 

 

The Heavens and the Earth

Leaf 5 (V) (verso)

 

     

Complete illustration 

 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC V(verso) GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail 

 

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC V(verso) (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured image to the recto of this leaf depicts The Heavens and The Earth: the Earth is placed at the centre of the Heavenly spheres (noted as terra); and God and the Heavenly Host shown in the outermost sphere. To the left of the Heavenly Host, the ranks are noted from Angels (appearing at the base of the list) to Seraphim (crowning the hierarchy). To the verso is a further coloured image showing the Earth as created by God.


 

The Expulsion from Paradise

Leaf 7 (VII)

 

Complete illustration 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC VII GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC VII (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured image to the verso of this leaf depicts the biblical tale of The Expulsion from Paradise: to the right, Adam and Eve are shown eating from the Tree of Knowledge; and to the left, the pair are being driven from Paradise. To the recto, a further large coloured image depicts the creation of Eve from one of Adam's ribs.


 

The Creation of Eve

Leaf 7 (VII) (recto)

 

     

Complete illustration 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC VII(recto) GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC VII(recto) (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured image to the recto of this leaf depicts the creation of Eve from one of Adam's ribs.

To the verso, a further large coloured image depicts the the Expulsion from Paradise.


 

The Golden Calf

Leaf 31 (XXXI)

 

       

Complete illustration

 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC XXXI GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC XXXI (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured woodcut illustrating the verso of this leaf depicts the biblical tale of The Golden Calf. Moses is shown, from that tale, with the broken tablets containing The Ten Commandments at his feet. The two smaller coloured woodcuts to the recto illustrate other elements of that tale, including Angels sealing the Ark of the Covenant.


 

Jesus and the Apostles

Recto to Leaf 101 (CI)

 

       

Complete illustration

 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC CI GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC CI (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured woodcut illustrating the recto of this leaf depicts Jesus and the Apostles.


 

God disposes of the Antichrist

Leaf 262 (CCLXII) (verso)

 

Complete illustration

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC CCLXII(verso) GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC CCLXII(verso) (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first Latin edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

On this particular leaf, consistently rubricated text is presented on the verso with a full-page coloured woodcut appearing on the verso. That woodcut splendidly depicts God disposing of the Antichrist. Details within the woodcut also show the Antichrist whispering in God's ear.


 

The Dance of Death

Leaf 264 (CCLXIV)

 

Complete illustration

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC CCLXIV GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC CCLXIV (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

This leaf is from the first Latin edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

 

On this particular leaf, the artists illustrating the Chronicle have depicted a scene of the inevitable outcome of life - as

dwelt upon within the Medieval and Renaissance theme of the "Dance of Death".


 

The Last Judgment

Leaf 265 (CCLXV) (verso)

 

Complete illustration

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC CCLXV GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC CCLXV (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first Latin edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

On this particular leaf, Christ is shown presiding over "The Last Judgment".


 

Pope Eneas and Kaiser Friedrich III

Leaf 268 (CCLXVIII)

 

       

Complete illustration

 

 

Single Greeting Card

Code: NC CCLXVIII GC
Price: US$5.00

 

Detail

 

Reproduction (prepared on a 12x18'' sheet)

Code: NC CCLXVIII (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

This leaf is from the first German edition of The Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493.

The large coloured woodcut illustrating the recto of this leaf depicts a meeting between Spiritual and Temporal authority magnificently: to the left, Pope Eneas is seated surrounded by other clergy and symbols of his Spiritual mandate; and to the right, Kaiser Friedrich III is depicted as Holy Roman Emperor supported by a Courtly entourage and symbols of his Temporal power.