1493 SCHEDEL, H. - Quita Etas Mundi. Folium. CII

Text page with wood block cuts on recto MARY AND THE APOSTLES. The Virgin Mary is seated on a throne surrounded by the apostles, among whom we are able to identify Peter, with a rounded beard and bald head, on her left, and possibly Andrew with flowing and divided beard, on her right.
The smooth-shaven man in the right foreground is probably the youthful John. Mary appears to be reading and interpreting the Scriptures to the apostles who listen in an attitude of reverence. The Holy Spirit, symbolized by a dove with outspread wings, appears above the head of the Virgin and immediately below the canopy of the throne.

VERSO : With a series of woodcuts to the side:

(A) ASCENSION OF MARY

Mary reclines on a bed, propped up against a pillow. Her head is surrounded by a simple nimbus, and she already holds a scepter in anticipation of her reception in heaven. The hard square bed would appear to be out in the open. The apostles are gathered about Mary according to the text of the Chronicle.
One of them, a rather diminutive figure, is seated on the floor in the foreground, with book in hand and apparently meditating on the Scriptures. The youthful figure beside Mary is probably John; next is Andrew, of the long flowing beard; then Peter, with rounded beard and bald except for the usual forelock. The woodcut is inscribed, "The Assumption of Mary, Mother of God."

(B) CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY

The crowning of Mary is in progress. The Lord is seated on his throne, and Mary kneels beside him, about to receive the crown upon her head. Above and between them is the symbolic dove, with wings outspread, attesting the presence of the Holy Spirit. The woodcut is inscribed, "The Coronation of the Glorious Virgin Mary in Heaven."

(C) ST. PETER AS THE FIRST POPE

Peter, in full pontificals, as Rome’s first pope, is seated in a narrow gothic chamber. He wears the triple crown and holds a crozier in his right hand. On his lap is an open book, and his look is one of meditation. The woodcut is inscribed, "In the year of the World 7223," and "In the Year of Christ, 34."

The Nuremberg Chronicle, published the year that Columbus returned to Europe after discovering America. In May of 1493 appeared in the Latin language one of the earliest voluminous books, fully illustrated with 1809 woodcuts printed from 645 woodblocks.

The woodblock cutters were Michael Wolgemut, the well-known teacher of Albrecht Dürer, and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. Wohlgemut was Albrecht Dürer's tutor between 1486-90 and recent scholarship has shown, Albrecht Dürer may also have collaborated, since some of the cuts bear a remarkably close resemblance to the Apocalypse illustrations.

The printing was carried out under the supervision of the great scholar-printer Anton Koberger, whose printing were famous throughout Europe
A opportunity to acquire a 15th-century book illustration by named artists.!

Reference: Morse Library, Beloit College.

John Senex (1678-

John Senex was a prominent mapmaker, engraver, globemaker and publisher who practiced his trade in early eighteenth-century London. He began his career in 1695 as an apprentice to Robert Clavell of the Stationers’ Company, where he stayed until 1702. His early work primarily consisted of engraving plates for almanacs and scientific books, including Sir William Browne’s Account of Microscopes and Telescopes.
In 1706, he turned his talents to cartography and began engraving and selling maps, globes, and astronomical charts. In 1710, he obtained professional premises on Fleet Street in London, and Senex frequently engraved his maps with a description of his shop’s location. As such, many of the maps in this collection have a variation of the inscription, “Engraved by Iohn Senex and sold by him at the Globe against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet Street, London”.
Between 1710 and his death in 1740, Senex rose to prominence with the publication of his updated version of Ogilby’s Britannia. Senex’s version was in miniature (‘improved, very much corrected, and made portable’) and included updated road maps of England and Wales. As appointed geographer to Queen Anne, Senex frequently published maps and astronomical charts with preeminent eighteenth-century scientists, including astronomer Sir Edmund Halley. Together they published several maps outlining the predicted path of Halley’s namesake comet, as well as star charts and astronomical globes. Their collaboration also included a contentious version of a star catalog that included astronomical data Halley obtained unethically from Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed. This led Flamsteed to purchase and subsequently destroy 300 of the 400 printed charts. Halley nominated Senex for fellowship to the Royal Society of London, which was granted in July of 1728. Senex was also highly respected for producing terrestrial and celestial globes, available in sizes ranging from three to twenty-eight inches.
Following Senex’s death, his wife Mary continued operating the publishing business on Fleet Street until her retirement in 1755. Mary published a broadsheet advertising the continued sale of Senex’s work after his death, which provides descriptions of available globes, and a list of the most popular maps along with prices.