Conrad Lycosthenes - Conrad Lycosthenes - 1557

Rare and attractive leaf with 4 beautifully hand-coloured woodcuts from one of the most famous Renaissance books on prodigies and extraordinary natural phenomena printed in Basel 1557.

These early woodcuts depict the extraordinary events described in the text, including an eagle rescued from a serpent that later saves its benefactor from poisoned water, together with lightning striking Rome and subterranean fires consuming fields and trees near Calenum, all regarded as divine warnings of impending misfortune.

The leaf originates from the celebrated Renaissance chronicle of wonders by Conrad Lycosthenes, Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum Chronicon (Basel, 1557) and draws on classical and medieval sources of its time such as Sebastian Münster, Conrad Gesner, Cardano and Paracelsus.
The work reflects the Renaissance fascination with unusual natural phenomena, monsters, mythical creatures and other marvels of nature at the crossroads of early science, astrology and natural history.

Dimensions: 26,5 x 18,5 cm
Good condition, light signs of use.

Attention for US buyers: Due to recent export problems higher shipping costs to the US apply!