Bononia / der werlt Blat LXII

Title

Bononia / der werlt Blat LXII

Description

Depiction of the city of Bologna in Italy; the reverse side shows two kings of Babylon, a philosopher and a depiction of the city of Byzantium/Constantinople (now Istanbul) in Turkey. Printed by Anton Koberger in Nuremberg in 1493.

ca. 1493

Artist

Schedel (1440-1515)

Hartmann Schedel (1440–1515) from Nuremberg is best known for the 1493 publication of the Schedel’s World Chronicle (Liber chronicarum), a universal history featuring 1,809 woodcuts—making it the most richly illustrated book of early printing. The chronicle, written in Latin by Schedel for merchants Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, was translated into German by Georg Alt and printed by Anton Koberger. The illustrations came from the workshop of Michael Wolgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. The work covers world history up to 1492/93, divided into eight ages of the world, and draws on numerous sources, including Jacobus Foresta and Enea Silvio Piccolomini. Notably, it features highly accurate city views, many depicted in detail for the first time. Pleydenwurff introduced a new perspective by portraying cities from a fixed viewpoint, emphasizing their unique architectural and landscape features. The project was funded in part by the patron Sebald Schreyer.

Historical Description

Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and one of the oldest cities in Italy. It was founded by the Etruscans in the 6th century BC and later developed by the Romans under the name Bononia. During the Middle Ages, Bologna became an important center of trade and culture. In 1088, the University of Bologna was founded, making it the oldest continuously operating university in the world. It established the city as a leading center for learning, law, and scholarship. Today, Bologna is famous for its well-preserved medieval old town, its extensive covered arcades (portici), and the iconic Two Towers (Due Torri), which have become symbols of the city.