Conrad Faber von Kreuznach, “Siege of Tarentum”, c.1530–33

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

“Siege of Tarentum”, c.1530–33, woodcut illustration to page 153 (verso shows page CLII [152]) 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 (c.1436–1501) 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/n335/mode/1up.

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

Size: (uneven sheet) 30.6 x 19.7 cm; (image borderline) 12.2 x 14.8 cm.

For those unfamiliar with the portrayed siege of Tarentum in 209 BC, the Roman general, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (c.280–203 BC)—I understand that the latter part of his name, Verrucosus ([transl.] “warty”), is an unfortunate and unflattering nickname to differentiate him from the rest of his family based on a wart on his upper lip—arranged for his army to launch an attack on the walls of the city on the sixth day of the siege, but this attack was a ruse as the general was meanwhile entering the city through the treachery of insiders within the city. The treachery was either facilitated by the lover of the city commander, Carthalo, who Hannibal had left in charge of the city, or the treachery was linked to the seductive abilities of the Roman general’s wife who had compromised Carthalo (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tarentum_(209_BC)). 

Condition: a strong and well-printed lifetime impression (based on the quality of the printed line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate). The sheet in 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 and the paper has a scallop in the left edge which is possibly an inherent part of the paper rather than a misadventure in the life of the leaf.

I am selling this superb Renaissance period woodcut for AU$298 in total (currently/approximately US$196/ EUR182.40/ GBP156.91at 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 $298) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb woodcut 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 print has been sold