Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Set of Three: Illustrations of Elephants and an Emblematic Crest from the Cosmographia – Woodcut (c. 1550)

Beskrivning

This page features three separate woodcuts illustrating text from a volume of the Cosmographia, likely related to the description of India. The woodcuts show elephants in different contexts: two elephants feeding in a forest, a decorative or heraldic crest, and a large elephant being used to pull heavy machinery or equipment, directed by a human figure. The accompanying German text details the characteristics of elephants and the geography of distant lands. The print is a classic example of early global description, blending factual observation with medieval tradition.

Sebastian Münster was a highly influential German cosmographer, geographer, and Hebraist whose primary achievement was the publication of the Cosmographia, one of the first German-language encyclopedias describing the world. The work was immensely popular, providing readers with detailed woodcut illustrations of maps, city views, customs, and natural history, profoundly shaping European understanding of geography in the mid-sixteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm

Medium: Woodcut

Date: c. 1550

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.