medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Well Diana, there were certainly some woodcuts around 1400,
there are a number of records telling us that certain people made
a living by printing playing cards in Florence in 1395 (the
earliest record in Italy). In Germany are the earliest records
from Ulm in 1402, the second from Nuremberg in 1441.
The records does also say that they produced Playing cards as well
as 'pictures of saints'.
None of them have actually survived, and from the bits and pieces
we have is it clear that the 'pictures of saints' not were anything
near what we today would call 'Art'. It suffice to recall the
famous preserved woodblock called the 'Bois Protat' (reproduced
everywhere).
With a Sermon delivered in Bologna in 1424 did Saint Bernardino
according to legend persuade the players to burn their playing cards.
It did not last for more than a week, apparently;-)
What you quote below is a typical summary covering the behaviour of
people over a period of almost 150 years, based on secondary books,
where all the ingredients are blended together as if they happened
all simultaneously at the same time. Most of it seems to be late
15th century.
The origin of the woodcut was once subject to intense research and
violent controversies. To get down to the naked facts will I suggest
to use Arthur M. Hind as a point of departure, and then check some
of the bibliographical references he recommended.
For those who want to get a realistic and proportional impression
of the character and amount of preserved early woodcuts are they
all reproduced in Paul Heitz: Einblattdrucke des funfzehnten Jahrhunderts,
volume 1-100, Strasburg 1906-1940.
Andre Blum wrote a very fine book on early printing, 'Les primitifs
de la gravure sur bois', Paris 1956. It was clearly his intention
to give it as deep a time perspective as possible, but the supposed
early production (c.1395-1420) never came to a light. Much to his
own disappointment. More recent research tend to date single cuts
much later than they were believed to be a generation ago.
And none is showing the Christ child playing with John the baptist,
as far as I know. Sorry. If I am mistaken, please let me know!
Best
Erik Drigsdahl
At 20:08 +0100 23/11/05, Diana Wright wrote:
>There were certainly woodcuts in the 14th century.
>See, for example: Ross & Romano, The Complete Relief Print, 1974, The Free
>Press NY
>"The woodcut in western art evolved as a later expansion of the utilitarian
>printing of textiles from wood blocks used extensively in the early 14th
>century. Though paper from the east was known in Spain in the 11th century,
>it was not until paper was produced in large quantities in France, Italy,
>and Germany in the 14th century that the art of the woodcut began to unfold.
>In southern Germany, woodcuts began as primitive religious figures. Their
>directness, simplicity of line, and economy of means made them very
>powerful. They were handbills for veneration, sold for pennies to pilgrims
>visiting holy places and to the populace on religious feast days. Woodcuts
>of Christ or the Virgin Mary were often pasted inside traveling chests or
>onto small altar pieces and frequently sewn into clothing to give protection
>from evil forces. "
>DW
>
_____________________________________________________________________
Mag.art. Erik Drigsdahl CHD Center for Haandskriftstudier i Danmark
Kapelvej 25B 3.tv Phone: +45 +35 37 20 47
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DENMARK http://www.chd.dk
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