Ethica naturalis seu documenta moralia e variis rerum naturalium proprietatib, virtutum vitiorumq symbolicis imaginibus collecta.
first edition Paperback
by WEIGEL, Christoph (1654-1725) LUYKEN, Jan (1649-1712) LUYKEN, Caspar (1672-1708).
First Edition. Paperback. Very Good. Nuremberg: (circa 1690-1700). 4to (240 x 195mm). 101 leaves. Engraved title-page and 100 numbered copperplate engraved emblems by father and son engravers Jan and Caspar Luyken (or Luiken). Each emblem is printed on rectos and accompanied by a ten-line Latin verse in letterpress. Original blue paper wrappers, edges uncut; (edges lightly browned and some light marginal foxing, spine chipped with loss, but overall still very good). Ex Libris of William S. Heckscher (bookplate to front pastedown).
First edition of Christoph Weigels Ethica naturalis; his summation of biblical ethics in moralistic prints and etchings. Christoph Weigel (the Elder) was a German engraver, art dealer and publisher. He was known to collaborate with the father and son engravers from Nurembeg, Luyken, to create masterfully engraved books. An engraver himself, Weigel is perhaps best known for his work in atlases, world geography, and universal histories. In this moralistic work, the Luyken team created striking designs of natural elements, animals, and aspects of the human condition to emphasize proverbial messages. This work sought to capture the social organization of mankind through expert engravings; they are classic examples of quality German Baroque printmaking. This copy belonged to prominent twentieth century German art historian William S. Heckscher (1904-1999), who wrote on emblem books and published the major work Reallexicon zu deutschen Kunstgeschichte, where he classified Weigels book as one of the encyclopedic works to follow in the footsteps of Andrea Alciato. Notably, it was Heckshers claim that Jan Luyken was one of the best emblem artists of all time. Very rarely complete in this original condition. Landwehr, German 639; Praz p. 533. (Inventory #: JC14681)
First edition of Christoph Weigels Ethica naturalis; his summation of biblical ethics in moralistic prints and etchings. Christoph Weigel (the Elder) was a German engraver, art dealer and publisher. He was known to collaborate with the father and son engravers from Nurembeg, Luyken, to create masterfully engraved books. An engraver himself, Weigel is perhaps best known for his work in atlases, world geography, and universal histories. In this moralistic work, the Luyken team created striking designs of natural elements, animals, and aspects of the human condition to emphasize proverbial messages. This work sought to capture the social organization of mankind through expert engravings; they are classic examples of quality German Baroque printmaking. This copy belonged to prominent twentieth century German art historian William S. Heckscher (1904-1999), who wrote on emblem books and published the major work Reallexicon zu deutschen Kunstgeschichte, where he classified Weigels book as one of the encyclopedic works to follow in the footsteps of Andrea Alciato. Notably, it was Heckshers claim that Jan Luyken was one of the best emblem artists of all time. Very rarely complete in this original condition. Landwehr, German 639; Praz p. 533. (Inventory #: JC14681)