Artist: Hans Holbein the Younger (Germany, 1497/8 - 1543) is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire, and Reformation propaganda, and he made a significant contribution to the history of book design. Holbein made ink drawings to margins of the personal copy of 1515/16 edition of 'The Praise of Folly' by Desiderius Erasmus.
Engraver: Johann Gottlieb Friedrich Unger (Germany, 1755-1804), wood-engraver: Berlin. He published works by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, August and Friedrich Schlegel etc.
Title: Almsgiving. Portrait of Erasmus. Two illustrations from 'The Praise of Folly' by Desiderius Erasmus.
Titled, Dated, and Signed in plate: U[nger]. J.; U[nger]. Jun[ior] fc. [fecit]. Collector's stamp AU in ink in Gothic script verso (not in Lugt).
Dimensions: 2 1/4" x 2 5/8"; 2 3/8" x 2 5/8". Sheet 4 1/2" x 2 5/8".
Publisher: possibly, Johann Gottlieb Friedrich Unger.
Date: Late XVIII C.
Materials and Techniques: two woodcuts on paper, pasted to one support paper sheet.
Provenance:
- Collection AU.
- The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965-2000.
Condition: The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: German School XVI C. German School XVIII C.
Note: This entry incorporates text from Wikipedia and the catalog entry of a similar item from the British Museum collection.