Ravenna / der werlt Blat CXLII

Title

Ravenna / der werlt Blat CXLII

Description

View shows the fortified city of Ravenna in Italy. The reverse side features four portrait illustrations of the consecutive popes of the Catholic Church from the early 6th century (Simachus, Hormißda, Johannes, and Felix der vierdt).

ca. 1493

Artist

Schedel Hartman (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

Ravenna, a historic city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, was an important political and cultural centre throughout its history. From 402 to 476, it served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire, later becoming the residence of the Ostrogothic kings and, from 540 onwards, a major centre of Byzantine rule in Italy. Ravenna is particularly renowned for its magnificent early Christian and Byzantine mosaics. Eight of its monuments are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.