Lot 344: 

VOGTHERR, Heinrich (1490-1556). Ein Frembds und wunderbars kunstbüchlin allen Molern, Bildschnitzern, Goldschmiden, Steinmetzen, Schreinern, Patnern, Waffen unn Messerschmiden hochnutzlich zu gebrauchen. Strassburg: Heinrich Vogtherr, 1538.

4υo (186 x 148 mm). Woodcut portrait medallions of Vogtherr the Elder and Younger on title, woodcut Vogtherr armorial, and 28 leaves containing approx. 700 woodcut designs. Early 20th-century black morocco by Cuzin, edges gilt. Provenance: E. Foulc (bookplate); Philip Hofer (bookplate); acquired from Ars Libri, 1983.

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST PRINTED MODEL BOOK FOR ARTISTS. Vogtherr published his Kunstbüchlein in order, as he describes in the preface, to serve artists in Germany and to present for their assistance difficult pieces to draw. The woodcuts depict male and female headgear, hands and feet in different attitudes, armour, weapons, shields, and column bases and capitals "all distinguished by beauty and originality, especially in regard to the female heads which show a great variety in the styles and dressing" (Fairfax Murray). Heinrich Vogtherr the Elder may have trained in the workshop of Hans Burgkmair I; he was assisted in the Kunstbüchlein by his son and namesake. "Very little seems to be known of the Vogtherrs, and most of the information concerning them appears to be derived from the present book. In 1545 the name is associated with that of H. Burgkmair, a plate of the arms of Augsburg having the signatures of both artists, see Passavant III p. 285 (2). Four separate cuts are accompanied by Vogtherr's name, one with his description 'Maler zu Wimpffen' and one dated 1541" (Fairfax Murray German 428).

We’ll email you when items you want become available. Go >