Southern German School (late 15th century) Saint Jerome penitent, woodcut with contemporary hand-colouring and letterpress text beneath, [Augsburg], [Johann Froschauer], [c.1498].

 

Southern German School (late 15th century) Saint Jerome penitent, woodcut with contemporary hand-colouring in green, ochre, brown and red, on laid paper, without or with indistinct watermark, a good impression of this extremely rare woodcut, printing strongly and clearly, 7 lines of letterpress text with the prayer in German beginning 'O Säliger und hoher lerer Jheronyme' in letterpress below, block 319 x 248 mm (12 1/2 x 9 3/4 in), sheet 388 x 266 mm (15 1/4 x 10 1/2 in), with margins on all sides, the lower right corner with part of the text lost, the sheet toned and stained, a few scattered wormholes in sheet, the image generally in good condition, faint horizontal drying crease with expert support verso, hinged into window mount, unframed, [Augsburg], [Johann Froschauer], [c.1498].

*** Only known copy of this intercessory prayer to St Jerome, who is depicted in his typical iconography as a hermit, kneeling in penance before a crucifix and holding a stone in his hand to beat his bare chest. He is accompanied by his lion and cardinal's hat. The woodblock survives at Berlin as part of the Derschau collection.

Provenance: Possibly Dietrich Schindler (1795-1882), Zürich (see Lugt 793 & 4432; without mark); Dr Otto Schäfer (1912-2000), Schweinfurt, Germany (Lugt 5887).

Literature: VE15 G-22; Schäfer 136 & Abb; GW 12416; Fac: Heitz, Einblattdrucke XCVIII 28.