Sena / Quinta etas mudi Foliu LXXX

Title

Sena / Quinta etas mudi Foliu LXXX

Description

Depiction of the city of Siena in Tuscany, Italy. The reverse side features nine depictions of prophets, philosophers and kings. 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

Siena is one of Italy's most important medieval cities and is located in the region of Tuscany. According to legend, the city was founded by Senius, a son of Remus. Historically, Siena originated as an Etruscan settlement and later developed under Roman rule. During the Middle Ages, Siena flourished as a wealthy trading and banking city. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it became one of the most important cities in Italy, competing with Florence for political and economic influence. After its defeat by Florence in 1555, Siena lost its independence and became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Today, Siena is best known for its exceptionally well-preserved medieval historic center.