The Book of Chronicles
The complete and annotated Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493. Excerpt from the introduction by Stephan Füssel
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This synthesis of philosophical and scientific interests is also evident in Hartmann Schedel's own library, most of which (no less than 370 manuscripts and 670 printed books) has survived in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich, together with an inventory dated 1498. Since 1456 he had copied and purchased books, and in 1485 he had inherited part of the important library of his cousin and patron Hermann Schedel (1410-1485) who was also a physician and humanist. The inventory begins by listing works of grammar, logic, rhetoric, astronomy and astrology, mathematics and philosophy, followed by many books relating to Schedel's studia humanitatis. Then come writings on medicine and surgery, relating to his profession, but also on the science of history. Only at the very end does he list his books on religion and theology.
Schedel studied in Leipzig from 1456 to 1462, obtaining the degree of Magister Artium in 1459. While he was there, he met the itinerant humanist Peter Luder (c. 1410-1472), who was teaching in Leipzig at the time. Schedel's handwritten copies of Luder's teaching texts are preserved in the Bayerische Staatbibliothek in Munich (clm 261). Schedel followed Peter Luder to Padua in 1463 in order to continue his humanistic studies and also to study medicine. Among those he met there were Johannes Pirckheimer (1440-1501), father of Willibald Pirckheimer, and Georg Pfinzing (1435-1478), both from Nuremberg, and he became one of the first German students to study the basic principles of Greek under Professor Demetrios Chalkondydes (1424-1511). On 17 April 1466, Schedel received his doctorate in medicine and returned to Nuremberg in the autumn; in 1470 we find him practising as a doctor in Nördlingen, in 1477 in Amberg, and from 1484 onwards back in Nuremberg. In that year he was already an elected member of the Great Council. As a patrician, he had close contact in the following years with the economic, spiritual and clerical elite of Nuremberg.
Schedel's library in the Bayerische Staatbibliothek in Munich gives an indication not only of his scientific and scholarly interests, mainly in the field of cosmography and geography, but also of his enormous appreciation for the books themselves, with their sumptuous bindings and opulent ornamentation. His library furthermore bears witness to the intensity with which he cared for his books, often having woodcuts, miniatures, leaflets and copperplate engravings bound or pasted into his books. In this way he compiled a graphic collection that is one of the most important of the period.
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
This synthesis of philosophical and scientific interests is also evident in Hartmann Schedel's own library, most of which (no less than 370 manuscripts and 670 printed books) has survived in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich, together with an inventory dated 1498. Since 1456 he had copied and purchased books, and in 1485 he had inherited part of the important library of his cousin and patron Hermann Schedel (1410-1485) who was also a physician and humanist. The inventory begins by listing works of grammar, logic, rhetoric, astronomy and astrology, mathematics and philosophy, followed by many books relating to Schedel's studia humanitatis. Then come writings on medicine and surgery, relating to his profession, but also on the science of history. Only at the very end does he list his books on religion and theology.
Schedel studied in Leipzig from 1456 to 1462, obtaining the degree of Magister Artium in 1459. While he was there, he met the itinerant humanist Peter Luder (c. 1410-1472), who was teaching in Leipzig at the time. Schedel's handwritten copies of Luder's teaching texts are preserved in the Bayerische Staatbibliothek in Munich (clm 261). Schedel followed Peter Luder to Padua in 1463 in order to continue his humanistic studies and also to study medicine. Among those he met there were Johannes Pirckheimer (1440-1501), father of Willibald Pirckheimer, and Georg Pfinzing (1435-1478), both from Nuremberg, and he became one of the first German students to study the basic principles of Greek under Professor Demetrios Chalkondydes (1424-1511). On 17 April 1466, Schedel received his doctorate in medicine and returned to Nuremberg in the autumn; in 1470 we find him practising as a doctor in Nördlingen, in 1477 in Amberg, and from 1484 onwards back in Nuremberg. In that year he was already an elected member of the Great Council. As a patrician, he had close contact in the following years with the economic, spiritual and clerical elite of Nuremberg.
Schedel's library in the Bayerische Staatbibliothek in Munich gives an indication not only of his scientific and scholarly interests, mainly in the field of cosmography and geography, but also of his enormous appreciation for the books themselves, with their sumptuous bindings and opulent ornamentation. His library furthermore bears witness to the intensity with which he cared for his books, often having woodcuts, miniatures, leaflets and copperplate engravings bound or pasted into his books. In this way he compiled a graphic collection that is one of the most important of the period.
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Chronicle of the World - 1493. Hartmann Schedel
Padded cover, 23.9 x 34 cm (9.4 x 13.4 in.), 680 pages
Hartmann Schedel's Chronicle of the World: A groundbreaking encyclopedic work and lavishly illustrated book
Epitoma, fol. I recto of the Latin printed edition of 1493, set in Antiqua Rotunda type. Göttingen, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek