Workshop of Georg Husner, “De Sex Alis Cherubin”, 1495

Workshop of Georg Husner (active 1479–1505)

“De Sex Alis Cherubin” (The Six-Winged Cherubin), 1495

Technical Details & Condition:

Woodcut (recto) with Latin letterpress text (verso) on fine incunabula-era laid paper leaf with full margins as issued. The verso has brown ink annotations by an early contemporary hand.

The leaf was printed by Georg Husner in Strassburg, dated December 18, 1495. It was published during the incunabula period as a key full-page illustration to the second part of the Opuscula (small theological works) attributed to Saint Bonaventure (circa 1221–1274).

The verso features Latin late-medieval Gothic incunabula letterpress text titled, “De sex alis cherubin” (On the six wings of the Cherub). The woodcut on recto serves as a complex spiritual mnemonic map: the six wings and thirty distinct feathers represent the virtues, mental purities, and steps of confession necessary for the soul to fly to God. While historically credited to Bonaventure, the text is now widely assigned to the scholastic philosopher, theologian, and poet Alanus de Insulis (also known as Alain de Lille) (circa 1128–1202/03).

This is a superbly strong, crisp impression. Aside from minor surface toning and faint handling marks, the sheet is in a remarkable state of preservation.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 29.5 x 20 cm
• Woodcut Image: 22.5 x 14.5 cm

References:

• Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke: GW 4648 (https://portail.biblissima.fr/ark:/43093/edata7e083622878204b45efaafbdfde0483c1d0d36b6)
• British Museum Catalogue: BMC I:153 (Printer of the 1483 Jordanus de Quedlinburg / Georg Husner)

Price & Shipping:

AU$483 (approximately US$339.81 / €295.09 / £255.39), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

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This print has been sold