[Stephan BRECHTEL (1523-1574)]. Effigies D. Stephani Brechtelii ... qui anno Christi MCLXXIIII ... ex hac vita excessit

[Bernhard JOBIN (d.1597, artist).] -  [Stephan Brechtel (1523-1574)]

Effigies D. Stephani Brechtelii, Mathematicarum disciplinarum, Arithmetices cumprimis peritissimi, qui anno Christi MCLXXIIII, die XXVII Iunii pie ex hac vita excessit, annum agens LI. [Strasbourg: Tobias Stimmer, 1574]. Broadside epitaph (sheet-size: 11 ½ x 6 ¼ins; 292 x 259mm.) for the mathematician and calligrapher Stephan Brechtel. Image: a half-length woodcut portrait in an oval cartouche in a rectangular scrollwork frame with personifications of Geometry and Astronomy in the upper corners, signed with Stimmer's monogram at lower left and with Jobin's monogram at lower right. Text: five lines of Latin letterpress above containing a brief biography and twelve lines of Latin verse below; with early associated backing sheet (not attached).

Condition: excellent, see images

Rare memorial broadside: a beautiful, deep, crisp impression of this characterful portrait – by a master of his medium.The Universal Short Title Catalogue records only the British Museum copy. No copies for sale or listed as having previously sold at auction.

Provenance: book sale Christies, NY, 5 December 2017, lot 210 (unsold, est. $2500-3500  ).

References: USTC 2507733British Museum accession number 1924, 0617.24; Geelhaar, Christian, Tobias Stimmer 1539-1584: Spätrenaissance am Oberrhein, Basel, Das Kunstmuseum, 1984, 137; Harms, Wolfgang (ed.), Deutsche Illustrierte Flugblätter des 16 und 17 Jahrhunderts, Tübingen, 1985, continuing, 30 (Tobias Stimmer); Andresen, A, Der Deutsche Peintre-Graveur ... von dem letzten Drittel des 16 Jahrhunderts bis zum Schluss des 18 Jahrhunderts, Leipzig, 1864, III.16.1.I.

See also http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2009_04_05_archive.html