MELANCHTHON, Philip (1497-1560) and Johann SCHWERTFEGER, (1488-1524). Passional Christi und Antichristi . [Wittenberg: Johann Rhau-Grunenberg, 1521]. First German edition of Cranach's famous woodcut book . A powerful attack on the papacy and the first illustrated polemical book of the Reformation. This work was published at Wittenberg shortly after Martin Luther (1483-1546) had publicly burnt the papal bull condemning his views. The 26 woodcuts comprise 13 contrasting pairs on facing pages, depicting the life of Christ and the Pope, including: Christ crowned with thorns and the pope crowned with the triple tiara; Christ healing lepers and the Pope watching a tournament; Christ driving the money changers from the temple and the Pope collecting money for indulgences; and Christ going to Heaven and the Pope to Hell. 'The woodcuts must have been among the best-known of all Lucas Cranach's (1472-1553) compositions; the little book is thought to have been published at a low price and distributed like a handbill, possibly reaching some 20,000 people. It was immediately reprinted, and also produced elsewhere' (Brinkmann and Dette, Cranach, p. 198). Beneath each cut are commentaries from the Bible or papal decrees selected by Philip Melanchthon and Johann Schwertfeger, the short epilogue is probably by Luther. All issues by Johann Rhau-Grunenberg were published without printer, place, and author. The issue corresponds with Benzing 1015 including the spelling of 'obirkayt' (A2r), 'Bapst' (B3r) and leaf B3 actually signed 'Biii'. Benzing 1015; Dodgson II, 329 (attributing the cuts to Hans Cranach ; Fairfax Murray, German 255; Graesse II, 295; VD16 L-5585; USTC 683164. Quarto (195 x 145mm). 14 leaves, wood-engraved title and 26 woodcut illustrations by Lucas Cranach (several gutters reinforced, some spotting). Modern binding reusing an early 15th-century vellum leaf from a Vita St. Bernardi manuscript. Provenance: Library mark ‘Nr. 232’ and date 1529 in another hand on title page – Schweinfurt, Otto Schäfer (monogram stamp, bought in 1954).
MELANCHTHON, Philip (1497-1560) and Johann SCHWERTFEGER, (1488-1524). Passional Christi und Antichristi . [Wittenberg: Johann Rhau-Grunenberg, 1521]. First German edition of Cranach's famous woodcut book . A powerful attack on the papacy and the first illustrated polemical book of the Reformation. This work was published at Wittenberg shortly after Martin Luther (1483-1546) had publicly burnt the papal bull condemning his views. The 26 woodcuts comprise 13 contrasting pairs on facing pages, depicting the life of Christ and the Pope, including: Christ crowned with thorns and the pope crowned with the triple tiara; Christ healing lepers and the Pope watching a tournament; Christ driving the money changers from the temple and the Pope collecting money for indulgences; and Christ going to Heaven and the Pope to Hell. 'The woodcuts must have been among the best-known of all Lucas Cranach's (1472-1553) compositions; the little book is thought to have been published at a low price and distributed like a handbill, possibly reaching some 20,000 people. It was immediately reprinted, and also produced elsewhere' (Brinkmann and Dette, Cranach, p. 198). Beneath each cut are commentaries from the Bible or papal decrees selected by Philip Melanchthon and Johann Schwertfeger, the short epilogue is probably by Luther. All issues by Johann Rhau-Grunenberg were published without printer, place, and author. The issue corresponds with Benzing 1015 including the spelling of 'obirkayt' (A2r), 'Bapst' (B3r) and leaf B3 actually signed 'Biii'. Benzing 1015; Dodgson II, 329 (attributing the cuts to Hans Cranach ; Fairfax Murray, German 255; Graesse II, 295; VD16 L-5585; USTC 683164. Quarto (195 x 145mm). 14 leaves, wood-engraved title and 26 woodcut illustrations by Lucas Cranach (several gutters reinforced, some spotting). Modern binding reusing an early 15th-century vellum leaf from a Vita St. Bernardi manuscript. Provenance: Library mark ‘Nr. 232’ and date 1529 in another hand on title page – Schweinfurt, Otto Schäfer (monogram stamp, bought in 1954).
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