Jost Amman: Frauentrachtenbuch

Jost Amman (1539–1691) was one of the most important and prolific illustrators, engravers, and xylographs of the Renaissance
His book on women's costumes includes 122 artistic woodcuts with accompanying short verses
They show the contemporary fashion of women of all social classes in the urban centers of Europe at that time

Jost Amman: Frauentrachtenbuch

Forschungsbibliothek Gotha (Erfurt, Germany) / Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum (Leipzig, Germany)

Description

Jost Amman: Frauentrachtenbuch

Jost Amman (1539–1691) is undoubtedly one of the most important and prolific draftsmen, engravers, and xylographs of the Renaissance north of the Alps. Working in Nuremberg, the artist employed numerous genres and techniques, with his everyday depictions of contemporary professions and traditional costumes being particularly noteworthy. They are characterized by realistic and detailed observations, which Amman transferred to various media. The 122 high-quality woodcuts in his Frauentrachtenbuch (Book of Women's Costumes), published in Frankfurt in 1586 by Sigmund Feyerabend (1528–1590), provide a particularly fascinating cultural-historical insight into the social hierarchies and European women's fashions of the 16th century. It shows the typical clothing of women of all social classes in the urban centers of Europe at that time – from simple peasants to illustrious empresses. Each of the artistic illustrations is accompanied by humorous verses that round off the work.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Jost Ammans Frauentrachtenbuch
Gynaeceum, Sive Theatrum Mulierum
Type: Printed book on paper
Size / Format: 154 pages / 20.0 × 13.0 cm
Origin: Germany
Date: 1586
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Renaissance
Genre: Treatises / Secular Books
Language: German
Script: Fraktur
Illustrations: 122 colored woodcuts
Content: Fashion illustrations with playful verses
Artist / School: Sigmund Feyerabend (publisher)
Jost Amman (woodcutter)

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

Jost Amman: Frauentrachtenbuch

A Spanish Princess

The Spanish nobility is depicted entirely draped in “velvet, pearls, silk, gold, silver, and precious stones.” The noble lady wears an elaborate dress made of many layers of different fabrics, topped with a voluminous cape, a white ruff, and a hat adorned with feathers. Among the fabrics in shades of red, only the lime-green bodice stands out in striking contrast. Without a doubt, such a garment involves “great expense and labor,” as the verses below also emphasize.

Single Page

Jost Amman: Frauentrachtenbuch

A Cologne Bride

This page is dedicated to the bridal fashion of Cologne on the Rhine. The fur-trimmed dress enchants with its vibrant colors, while the flower-adorned headpiece and numerous necklaces add a touch of glamour to the ensemble.

The text highlights the uniqueness of this bridal fashion tradition and the commitment to preserving it. The last line suggests that white wedding dresses were already common in 16th-century Nuremberg, though they did not become a widespread trend across Europe until the 19th century.

Facsimile Editions

#1 Jost Ammans Frauentrachtenbuch

Insel-Verlag Anton Kippenberger – Leipzig, 1972

Publisher: Insel-Verlag Anton Kippenberger – Leipzig, 1972

Binding: Brown leather binding.

Commentary: 1 volume (31 pages) by Manfred Lemmer
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.

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