\u00a0<\/span>When I first set out to write a blog post for the DIU I had originally wanted to focus on those works closely connected to Albrecht D\u00fcrer (1471-1528), the famous Renaissance artist out of Nuremberg. What I came across instead was collection of incunabula that represented the veritable network of key figures that were highly influential in D\u00fcrer\u2019s early development. The most notable of these connections is that of Anton Koberger (1445-1513), who was not only D\u00fcrer\u2019s godfather, but helped to arrange D\u00fcrer\u2019s apprenticeship in the workshop of Michael Wolgemut (1434-1519). <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 The University of Edinburgh has a surprisingly large and varied collection of Koberger\u2019s books shared between the CRC and New College Library. These collections include three different printings of Koberger\u2019s Latin bible, and a copy of the stunning 1483 German bible (Inc.45.2) http:\/\/images.is.ed.ac.uk\/luna\/servlet\/s\/z1s8m5<\/a> \u00a0<\/span>which reused 82 of the 109 woodcuts used by Henrich Quentell in his 1478 Low German bible printed in Cologne. Although these woodcuts predate D\u00fcrer\u2019s apprenticeship, elements of their composition can be seen in his later works.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Another major work produced by Koberger, and perhaps the one that he is the most famous for, is that of the Nuremberg Chronicle<\/i>. It was to my great delight to discover that the University ownsnot one of these books, but four, in a range of quality and finish (Inc.48.1\/2 and Inc.48*). It is a rare opportunity to have so many of the same rare book at hand for ready comparison including one that has been stripped down that shows the book anatomically. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Michael Wolgemut and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff are known to have been responsible for woodcuts illustrating the Nuremberg Chronicle<\/i>, and there has been considerable debate over whether or not D\u00fcrer is also responsible for some of the compositions. While many scholars suggest that the contract between Koberger and the patrons signed in 1491 was well after D\u00fcrer completed his apprenticeship at Wolgemut\u2019s workshop, Loura Brooks reminds us that drawings for the woodblocks began in 1484. D\u00fcrer would have been apprenticing in Wolgemut\u2019s workshop during this time and did contribute to the compositions, an account of which can be found in The Making of the Nuremberg Chronicle<\/i> by Adrian Wilson. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Another item that I came across with interesting ties to D\u00fcrer is Sebastian Brant\u2019s Stultifera Navis<\/i> or the Latin translation of Ship of Fools<\/i> (Inc.13) http:\/\/images.is.ed.ac.uk\/luna\/servlet\/s\/a8126x<\/a> . While the copy owned by the University of Edinburgh is a pirated copy printed by Johann Reinhard of Gr\u00fcningen in 1497, it demonstrates the vast popularity of printed texts and particularly those with illustrations. Gr\u00fcninger\u2019s edition was published very shortly after one of Brant\u2019s official editions, and within a few months Brant has printed another version with an additional section condemning pirated texts. D\u00fcrer worked closely with Brant to design the woodcuts accompanying the text, and nearly two thirds of the woodcuts in the first edition are attributed to D\u00fcrer. \u00a0 \u00a0Though there is very little of D\u00fcrer\u2019s actual work housed in the collections there is much that informs on the network that helped to shape D\u00fcrer\u2019s career, evidence of his early influences, and many exemplars from those that he worked with later in his career. Whether looking at Koberger\u2019s bibles, the Nuremberg Chronicle<\/i>, or Ship of Fools<\/i> there are plenty of opportunities for new and exciting research. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Many thanks to Loura Brooks for fielding my many questions.<\/span><\/p>\n Jessica Macaulay<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week, our post comes from Volunteer Jessica Macaulay and is about some of the exciting finds she has discovered while working on enriching the metadata in our Image Collection…<\/p>\n![\"0022379d\"](\"http:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/diu\/files\/2013\/08\/0022379d.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Printed](\"http:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/diu\/files\/2013\/08\/0002403d.jpg\")
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