Heinrich Vogtherr the Elder’s woodcut, “Battle of Dentatus and Pyrrhus”, c1548

Heinrich Vogtherr the Elder (1490–1556)

“Battle of Dentatus and Pyrrhus” (descriptive title only; the subject portrayed is the 275 BC battle near Beneventum in the Campi Arusini between the Roman consul, Manius Curius Dentatus, and the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus—but I may be wrong), c1548, woodcut illustration published in 1548 in Zurich in Johann Stumpf’s (1500–1578) account of Swiss history, “Gemeiner loblicher Eydgnoschafft Stetten, Landen vnd Völckeren Chronick wirdiger Thaaten Beschreybung: hieriñ wirt auch die Gelegenheit der gantzen Europe: item ein kurtzuer griffne Chronica Germanie oder Teütschlands: in sonders aber ein fleyssige histori vnd ordenliche Beschreybung Gallie oder Franckrychs fürgestellt: darauff deñ obgedachte der Eydgnoschafft Beschreybung volget ...”, p. 123.

Archive.org offers an online view of this print in its context in Johann Stumpf’s publication: https://archive.org/details/gemeinerlobliche01stum/page/n273/mode/2up?.

Woodcut on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline with German letterpress text verso.

Size: (sheet/image borderline) 8.1 x 16.8 cm.

Condition: a well-printed, near faultless, early/lifetime impression (based on the line quality showing minimal wear to the printing plate), trimmed around the image borderline in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this superb woodcut of the battle that ultimately resulted in the complete defeat of the Greek king to the Roman consul and, interestingly, the first capture of “war” elephants (but I may be wrong about this!), for a total cost of AU$252 (currently US$196.49/EUR163.88/GBP140.4 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.

If you are interested in purchasing this small but graphically arresting early woodcut executed with amazing skill, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold