A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I.

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I. – Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)

Vienna (Austria) — Around 1465/66

Reading and writing lessons for the future emperor and "last knight": prayers and instructions in the Christian faith in golden miniatures and masterly calligraphy for the education of Emperor Maximilian I.

  1. Maximilian I of the Habsburg dynasty was crowned Roman-German Emperor in 1508

  2. This manuscript was his first textbook, used to learn the alphabet and the most important prayers

  3. 13 elaborate decorated initials and fantastical borders with numerous animals and hybrids accompany the texts

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I.

Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I.

With this codex, with which an emperor learned to read and write, world history seems more accessible than ever: Maximilian I (1459-1519) led the Habsburgs to the most powerful dynasty in Europe and went down in history as the "last knight" and father of the Landsknechte. But even the most powerful man in Europe first had to learn to read and write. Thus, the viewer of this magnificently decorated manuscript can look over the shoulder of the seven-year-old as he first learned the alphabet and the basic prayers. In the historiated "M" initial, little Maximilian is seen eagerly trying to decipher the first letters with his finger, together with his teacher Jakob von Fladnitz. This and 12 other ornamental initials were intended to motivate the young ruler and, together with the borders decorated with animals and mixed creatures, also give great pleasure to today's viewer.

A magnificent textbook for the "last knight"

With this textbook the emperor learned to read and write, therefore this "Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I." has an enormous cultural-historical importance. The owner of the work was the extremely talented prince who went down in history as the "last knight and first lansquenet" and under whom the Habsburgs became the most powerful ruling dynasty in Europe.
The manuscript preserved in the Austrian National Library, the so-called Tafel, is the first textbook that Maximilian was given as a seven-year-old and from which he learned the alphabet, the Pater noster, the Ave Maria and other prayers as well as mnemonic devices. In the colored miniature, executed with elaborate gold, the emperor's son himself appears: In the historiated initial on the first page we see him next to his first teacher Jakob von Fladnitz, reading from a codex. Another clue to the user is given on the first page of text by the two coats of arms of Maximilian's parents, Emperor Frederick III and Eleonora of Portugal.

The fascinating content

Following the medieval canon for first lessons, Maximilian's plate contains the basic prayers such as Pater noster, Ave Maria, Credo, Magnificat, Song of Simeon, Salve Regina, Sanctus, Requiem, Ostende nobis, and Prayer of Steps, Confiteor, Table Prayers, and finally Prayers for the Benefactor. This is followed by the Cisioianus, a verse calendar composed of short syllables that served as a memorial aid to memorize feast days and saints' days and their position in the course of the year.

A Viennese patron

In order to guarantee his son an education that befitted his nobility, Emperor Frederick III endeavored to procure valuable textbooks, but the court, in its thriftiness, did not want to pay for them itself. Finally, a benefactor was found in the wealthy Viennese citizen Stephan Heuner, who had two more textbooks made for Maximilian in addition to this manuscript. The miniatures the decor should enjoy the child and arouse his interest, so that he would remember it later.

Rich decoration, worthy of a Habsburg

12 colored, elaborately designed initial letters, as well as a genre scene inscribed in an initial, stand at the beginning of each text section. The exquisite effect of these small works of art is enhanced by precious parts of polished gold leaf adorned with chasing and hallmarks, with which the bodies of the letters are backed. The initial letters also form the starting point for delicate leafy tendrils that spread out over the parchment rim and flow into multiple leaf and flower forms. Within this floral framework numerous animals and mixed creatures cavort. While with Wolfgang Spitzweg, an imperial chancellor, the author of the textbook is known, its illuminator has remained anonymous. According to a total of three textbooks, which he decorated for Maximilian's lessons, he is called "Textbook Master".

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilians I.
Ars grammatica
Size / Format
44 pages / 30.6 × 21.7 cm
Origin
Austria
Date
Around 1465/66
Style
Script
Gothic|Humanist
Illustrations
Splendid opening page with Maximilian and his teacher, vine frame with animal drolleries, 13 more initials and vine frame with drolleries
Content
Grammatica by Aelius Donatus (fol. 2r-7v), Disticha Catonis with prose preface (fol. 8r-14v), health rules (fol. 14v-15r), coat of arms of Stephan Heuner (fol. 15v), exhortations to the future emperor by Stephan Heuner (?) (fol. 16r-20v)
Patron
Stephan Heuner
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Maximilian I, later Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Available facsimile editions:
A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I. – Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Salzburg, 1981
Limited Edition: 290 copies

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I. – Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Salzburg, 1981
Detail Picture

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I

The Trumscheit player

The decoration of the pages of the textbook is exceptional with the finely decorated initials and the floral borders. The "B" initial of fine acanthus leaves is framed by embossed gold leaf and backed by a pink diamond pattern. To the left of the ornamental initial, which transitions vegetally into the tendrils, is a fabulous human figure. The figure is wrapped in a leafy skirt, which takes up the floral decor. In its hands it holds a Trumscheit or trumpet fiddle, a long medieval stringed instrument covered with one gut string.

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I. – Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
Single Page

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I.

Maximilian at the teaching

This first page of the textbook is framed with beautiful floral tendrils of green, blue, pink and gold. Embedded in the tendrils are the escutcheons of Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519): At the top on the left is the double-headed imperial eagle on a gold background, and to the right is the emblem of his mother, Eleonore Helena of Portugal, with castles, shields, and fleurs-de-lis. In the center of the lower tendril is the red and white striped escutcheon of the Habsburgs. In addition, the tendrils are decorated with flowers and various animals such as a monkey and heron. The music-making duo of the bear at the bottom left and the hare at the bottom right complete the composition.

The large pink "M" initial with fine acanthus leaves in a frame of embossed gold leaf is decorated with a depiction of the prince and his teacher. The prince, who is illustrated with flowing blond curls, is clad in a magnificent blue and gold brocade robe, while his teacher next to him wears a red and white robe. Besides the historiated initial, the text page is adorned by bright letters in blue and gold.

A Textbook for Emperor Maximilian I. – Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Ein Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian I. (Luxury Edition)

Publisher: Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Salzburg, 1981
Limited Edition: 290 copies
Binding: Facsimile bound in embossed suede and with patinated brass fittings to match the original
Commentary: 1 volume (60 pages) by Otto Mazal
Language: German
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding. The facsimile was produced using a special flat printing process with additional gold foil embossing.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

#2 Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian I. (Normal Edition)

Publisher: Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung – Salzburg, 1981
Binding: Facsimile bound in embossed suede
Commentary: 1 volume (60 pages) by Otto Mazal
Language: German
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding. The facsimile was produced using a special flat printing process with additional gold foil embossing.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
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