Photo Credit: danielgoodantiquarianbooks
Medieval Woodcut Print from Johannes Grüninger’s 1502 Edition of the Aeneid
Buy It Now Price: $540 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This magnificently illustrated medieval woodcut leaf was created by the renowned German printer Johannes Grüninger in Strasbourg in 1502 AD. It is from the classic Latin epic poem, the Aeneid, and depicts a scene from Book 6 when the hero Aeneas journeys to the underworld.
-This leaf measures 11.7 inches (29.7 cm) long by 7.7 inches (19.6 cm) wide. This is large for a medieval manuscript leaf and adds to its desirability.
-The illustration is sizable, occupying about 3/4 of the leaf’s area. Many medieval woodcut illustrations only cover 1/2 or less of a printed page, rendering them less desirable.
-The illustration features a famous theme from Classical mythology, a hero being transported across the River Styx by the underworld ferryman Charon.
-While the specific artist who created this stunning woodcut illustration is unknown, scholars have named him the “Late Master of the Grüninger Workshop”.
-This medieval woodcut illustration has a style that is both whimsical and disturbingly edgy at the same time. Aficionados of medieval art will immediately recognize the similarities between this woodcut print and works by the contemporary Northern Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch.
-Although over 500 years old, this weird and wonderful medieval woodcut print has a distinctly modern “vibe” to it. The buy it now price of $540 is fair considering the superb quality of the work.
Cons:
-The leaf has a couple minor spots of foxing and some slight discoloration. However, these are not severe and are restricted to the outer margins of the leaf, leaving the illustration itself unblemished.
-$540 is a “full” price for this medieval woodcut leaf. The seller knows how good the piece is and has priced it accordingly.
-Although printed over 500 years ago, this 1502 edition of the Aeneid is considered post-incunable by book collectors. Earlier, incunable works from before the year 1500 are generally more desirable. This only has a very minor impact on the leaf’s value, though.
