Original printed leaf on paper with beautiful woodcut from the Schatzbehalter, (Treasure Chest or Shrine of True Riches for Salvation and Eternal Blessedness). (295 x 208mm – 11 ½ x 8 ¼’’)
The Schatzbehalter was written by the Franciscan preacher Stephan Fridolin (1430-98). This rare incunabula is a leaf from the first printed edition of the work, published in 1491 by Anton Koberger of Nuremberg in an edition of only about 150 copies.
It is an exceptional example of the collaboration of early printing with a master woodcut. The edition was lavishly illustrated with full-page woodcuts by the master craftsman Michael Wohlgemuth (1434-1519), teacher of Albrecht Dürer.
The woodcut on this particular leaf dramatically depicts The Last Supper with the twelve disciples seated around the table. John is shown with his head hidden by his arms at the lap of Jesus who consoles him by patting his left shoulder as he prepares for the inevitable conclusion of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Judas is depicted at lower left holding a money bag in his left hand, behind his back. (Another example of the leaf is in Cleveland Museum of Art accession number 1929.59)
Koberger was the leading German publisher of his day - known particularly for the Nuremberg Chronicle and the Schatzbehalter. He was also Albrecht Dürer’s Godfather – providing Dürer with his early training. The importance of Wohlgemuth as an artist rests, not only on his own individual works, but also on the fact that he was the head of a large workshop, in which the fine arts were carried on by a great number of pupil-assistants, including Albrecht Dürer, who completed an apprenticeship with him between 1486-9.
Presented in an archival 16 x 12'' mat
