Conrad Faber von Kreuznach, “Battle of Sutrium”, c1530–33

Conrad Faber von Kreuznach (aka Konrad Faber von Creuznach; [formerly] “Master of the Holzhausen Portraits”) (1495–1558)

“Battle of Sutrium”, c.1530–33, woodcut illustrations (recto and verso) to pages 83 and 84 (verso shows page LXXXIIII) published in 1533 in Mainz in the German edition of the Roman Historian, Livy’s (aka Titus Livius) (59/64 BC–17 AD) “Römische Historien” (Roman Histories), edited by Johannes Schoeffer (c1475–1531), and translated from Latin by Bernhard Schöfferlin (c1436–1501) and Ivo Wittich (1456–1507) with contributions by Nicolaus Carbach (aka Nicolaum Carbachium) (1485–c1534) and Jakob Micyllus (aka Jacobum Micyllum) (1503–1558).

Archive.org offers an online view of an edition of this publication from 1538; see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125011080492/page/n792/mode/1up; https://archive.org/details/gri_33125011080492/page/n41/mode/1up.

Woodcut with letterpress German text recto and verso on fine laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 30.5 x 19.3 cm; (image borderline of recto plate) 11.9 x 14.4 cm; (image borderline of verso plate) 5.5 x 14.8 cm.

For those unfamiliar with the portrayed battle at the ancient city of Sutrium (now called Sutri in southern Etruria), Wikipedia advises: “In 310 BC the consul Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus went to Sutrium with reinforcements and was met by a superior force of Etruscans who were lined up for battle. He went up the hills and faced the enemy. The Etruscans charged in haste, throwing away their javelins. The Romans pelted them with javelins and stones” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samnite_Wars). 

Recto text: (above the image borderline) “Das erst Bůch” ([transl.] The First Book); (below the image borderline) “Wann das gantz landt ausgenumen die statt are-/ tium hetten sich wider die Romer vereynt/vnd zoge fűr die statt/ Sutrium die als eyn [Clasfz/Clauß?] swische Etruria vnd den Romern/ gelegenn war … streit/” ([transl.] If the whole country except the city of Aretium [now called Arezzo in Tuscany] had united against the Romans and marched for the city of Sutrium [now called Sutri in southern Etruria] which was situated as an [intermediary point] between Etruria and the Romans ... dispute/).

Condition: strong and well-printed lifetime impressions (based on the quality of the printed line showing no sign of wear to the printing plates). The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes folds, abrasions or significant stains, nevertheless, there are brown ink notations (verso) in the margins from an old hand, minor signs of handling and pale age-toning to the edges of the leaf.

I am selling this superb leaf of Renaissance period woodcuts for AU$308 in total (currently/approximately US$208.70/ EUR186.56/ GBP158.10 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$308) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb leaf of two woodcuts (recto and verso) of extraordinary quality in an excellent condition, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This leaf of prints has been sold