Hans Wechtlin’s woodcut, “Crucifixion”, 1506

Hans Wechtlin (aka Johann Ulrich Pilgrim) (1480/85–after 1526)

“Crucifixion”, 1506, published as one of the twenty-six woodcut illustrations to Benedictus Chelidonius’ (c1460–1521), “Passio Jesu Christi... vario Carminu genere F.Benedicti Chelidonij...” and printed in Strasbourg by Johann Knoblauch (fl. c1506–1511) with letterpress German text verso. Note that the British Museum offers an online view of all the woodcut illustrations in this publication; see: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1904-0206-51-1-28 (click on thumbnail images).

See also the biographical details about Hans Wechtlin offered by SG Collezione Stampe (Old Master Prints Collection): http://www.sgcollezionestampe.it/wechtlin-hans/?lang=en.

Woodcut on fine laid paper (with watermark), trimmed with a narrow margin and with letterpress text verso.

Size: (sheet) 22 x 17.2 cm; (image borderline) 21.7 x 16.8 cm.

Lettered in plate: (on banderole) “Vere filius dei erat iste” (He was truly the son of God); (on cross) “[I]NRI” (abbreviation of “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” [Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews]).

Passavant 40(?) (Johann David Passavant and Adam von Bartsch 1860, “Le Peintre-Graveur: Les Maîtres Allemands et Néerlandais du XVe. Siècle”, vol. 3, Leipsic, R. Weigel, p. 332, cat. no. 40; see https://archive.org/details/lepeintregraveu03duchgoog/page/332/mode/2up); Paisey 103 (David Paisey 2002, “Catalogue of German printed books to 1900”, London, British Museum Press).

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline with letterpress text verso. The sheet is lightly age-toned and there are remnants of mounting verso and a restored hole, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this exceptionally rare lifetime impression of a post-incunabula woodcut executed by an Renaissance printmaker well-known for his chiaroscuro woodcuts printed in two or more colours, for the total cost of AU$553 (currently US$354.26/EUR361.45/GBP317.26 at the time of this listing) including 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 superb woodcut, 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