The Nuremberg Chronicle, Schedelsche Weltchronik in German, is a history of the world. The book was written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel and appeared with a German translation by Georg Alt in 1493 in Nuremberg/Germany.
Hartmann Schedel
Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514) was a German physician, humanist and historian from Nuremberg. Taking advantage of the revolutionary invention by Johannes Gutenberg in 1447, the printing press, he was the first to make use of the new technique for cartography and wrote his version of the history of the world in Latin. He was probably commissioned by Anton Koberger. Koberger, also from Nuremberg, was a goldsmith turned printer and publisher, who established the first printing house in 1470 and transformed it into a prosperous, commercial enterprise. He also happened to be the godfather of Albrecht Duerer.
Weltchronik
The Nuremberg Chronicle appeared in 1493 in Latin. A German version by Georg Alt followed quickly a few months later. The book was printed, not hand written and accompanied by lavish, hand coloured illustrations. In fact, the illustrations were the main purpose of the book. The contents is divided into seven ages:
Creation and Deluge
Up to the birth of Abraham
Up to King David
Up to the Babylonian captivity
Up to the birth of Christ
Up to the present time
Outlook on the end of the world and the Last Judgment
Part six is the largest part of the history and it's there, that Saint Valentine is first mentioned and illustrated in a wood cut.
According to the chronicle, he was a priest and martyr at the time of emperor Claudius II. He secretly helped and married Christian couples, which was a crime at the time. Arrested and tortured, Claudius nevertheless took a liking to the man. That changed abruptly, when Valentine tried to convert the emperor. to Christianity. His attempt was punished by death.
Printing Business of the 15th Century
It must be understood, that printing and publishing had become big business thanks to the enterprising Anton Koberger. Koberger had 24 presses running and put competitors out of business. Through agents, he established ample contacts with book merchants all over Europe. To supply paper for his printing presses, he also acquired two paper mills.
The illustrations of the chronicle were commissioned to the talented Michael Wolgemut, who counted Albrecht Duerer among his apprentices. The chronicle featured 1809 wood cuts which were coloured in later. Several of the big ones were sold separately as prints. According to records, approx. 1400-1500 Latin copies were published and 700-1000 German versions.
Copies that have survived are kept today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of American History.
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