SCHEDEL HARTMANN

De expugnatione Constantinopolis. . . Folium CCLXXIIII

SCHEDEL, H.

44.0 x 31.0 cm.

One of the first wood block printed views of Istanbul (232 x 227mm.) The great walls of the city appear intact as the view is from the south, thus not revealing the damage inflicted by the canons used by Mehmet the Conqueror when he finally seized what was often called the ‘Golden Apple’ in 1453.

The pillar on which stood the famed statue of Constantine the Great is featured, as is Hagia Sophia along with many of the churches extant at that time. The famed chains used to control travel and to extort payment for use of the waterway are clearly illustrated, and sections of these very chains may be seen today in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul.

Page from the richest illustrated Incunabula, the famous: Nuremberg Chronicle, published the year that Columbus returned to Europe after discovering America.
The woodblock cutters were Michael Wolgemut, the well-known teacher of Albrecht Dürer, and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. Wohlgemut was Albrecht Dürer’s tutor between 1486-90 and recent scholarship has shown, Albrecht Dürer may also have collaborated, since some of the cuts bear a remarkably close resemblance to the Apocalypse illustrations.
The printing was carried out under the supervision of the great scholar-printer Anton Koberger, whose printing were famous throughout Europe