Diebold Schilling

DIEBOLD SCHILLING'S SPIEZ ILLUMINATED CHRONICLE

      Faksimile Verlag Luzern. New. Hardcover. pDiebold Schilling's Spiez Illuminated Chronicle, 15th century - Burgerbibliothek Bern, Mss. H. H. I.16/ppA crowning achievement - Diebold Schilling's Last Masterpiece /p pThe Ultimate Masterpiece of a Great Annalist /ppThree magnificent illuminated chronicles of Diebold Schilling's own hand have come down to us: the Great Burgundian Chronicle, also called the Zurcher Schilling describing the history of the war between the Confederation and Charles the Bold, the Official Bern Chronicle in three volumes, and the so-called Spiez Chronicle, commissioned by Rudolf von Erlach, mayor of Bern, which became the crowning achievement of Schilling's uvre. /ppThis chronicle is the last work executed in the magnificent tradition of Bern chronicles of the 15th century. Diebold Schilling's relationship with Rudolf Erlach's family was particularly good. Schilling's wife Katharina even was godmother of one of Rudolf's sons. Rudolf was very keen to possess his own copy of Schilling's chronicle. /ppThis version, the Spiez Chronicle, would become Schilling's last work, he died in 1486. However, its truly outstanding illustrations make this chronicle the most precious work of Schilling's entire uvre as an artist. /ppRudolf von Erlach, a Nobleman and Councellor /ppRudolf von Erlach was at the height of his political career, when he commissioned his private chronicle of Bern from Diebold Schilling. He belonged to the leading members of the Council of Bern. His family could boast a glorious past as a dynasty of high-ranking officials under the Counts of Nidau. /ppRudolf was born in 1448. In the conflict between Bern and Burgundy he took sides with his father's home town, although he held a number of feudal estates in Burgundy. Immediately, his political career began, and it ended at the top of the city's administration. /ppThe historical work commissioned by him combined the proudness of his family's glorious past with the self-confidence of a Bern statesman, and at the same time expressed Rudolf von Erlach's way of life and thinking. /ppThe Ultimate Achievement of an Annalist /ppWhen Diebold Schilling at Christmas 1483 presented his Official Chronicle of Bern in three volumes to the Bern Council, he may have provoked Rudolf von Erlach's wish to call such a beautiful work his own. He ordered the chronicle just a little later. /ppThe text of the chronicle is written in Schilling's precise hand writing which he had used in previous editions. In 344 illustrations on 808 pages he deals with the history of the City of Bern, from its beginnings to the year 1465. /ppSeveral smaller abbreviations toward the end of the chronicle betray the writer's impatience: due to his advanced age and illness, the annalist had to finish his work in due time. /pp344 Fascinating Compositions /ppThe most unique pictorial decoration make Schilling's last illuminated chronicle the crowning of his comprehensive uvre as an annalist. Its life-like pen drawings coloured with many shades of azure have clearly surpassed the compositions of early illuminated chronicles. /ppA particular feature of these illustrations is the strong formal ability of the artist to direct and combine the main and secondary levels of the action, to create a link between background and foreground scenes. /ppFrequently he allows a charming insight appear in distant landscapes, as if through a window in the background, thus adding a lyrical counterpart to the dramatic events taking place in the foreground. /ppIn the same way as in the text, the illustrations of the chronicle are also dominated by descriptions of war scenes. In the centre, the artist places his protagonists who often appear as two opposed groups of persons. /ppProportion and pose of the figures show the remarkable ability of the artist to reproduce human physiology to the finest detail. The decoration of the book was specially designed to meet Rudolf von Erlach's personal needs. It was supposed to display the glory and honour of his family for posterity. /ppThe Fine Art Facsimile Edition /ppThe facsimile is published in a strictly limited edition of 980 unique numbered copies world-wide. All 808 pages in the format of 39 x 28 cm including 344 mostly full-page illustrations have been reproduced in full accordance with the original. /ppThe leather binding with blind tooling, corner and centre fittings and two metal clasps has been made by hand in a time-consuming process. The headband is faithful to the original and has been stitched by hand and modelled after antique craftsmanship. The double leaves were sewn by hand on five cords. /ppThe Scientific Commentary Volume /ppThe commentary volume of 600 pages includes a complete edition of the text and reveals the outcomes of scientific research begun on the occasion of the reproduction of the manuscript. /ppDocumentation Kit/ppA documentation folder containing four full-sized leaves from the facsimile edition and an illustrated 12-page information brochure is available for information upon request. /p .