The draughtsman of the seated man

Details

Bartsch 146; Meder 268, 1. deutsche Ausgabe; Schoch/Mende/Scherbaum 274.197, 1. deutsche Ausgabe.

Provenienz:
Friedrich Quiring (1886-?), Eberswalde bei Berlin, verso mit dem Stempel (1041c).

Descrizione

Excellent, deep black and even early impression of the 1st German edition, printed in Nuremberg around 1525. Verso with the text identifying the loose book clippings: “por unden un das ein zepfl…Solichs hab / ich hernach aufgerissen”. With the borderlines and a small margin around them. Albrecht Dürer’s “Underweysung der Messung” was the first of his theoretical writings to be printed in 1525. After explaining central perspective, Dürer concludes his explanations with the depiction of two drawing devices, which he illustrates in two woodcuts. The first of these devices is shown on this sheet; it is intended to help portrait artists, who, as Dürer himself says, “are not sure of their subject”, to reproduce the exact perspective. Dürer thus provides a vivid insight into the artistic practice of the time, as such technical equipment was to be found in many studios (cf. Schoch/Mende/Scherbaum vol. III, pp. 168f. 265f.). – Scattered tiny brown spots, faint diagonal fold mark, otherwise in very good condition. Very rare!