 |
BOOKPLATES THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
|
A historical retrospective 4 EX-LIBRIS: A THEMATIC APPROACH |
|
4d VANITAS OR THE TRANSIENCE OF POSSESSION 1650-1950
A book is durable, man is mortal. Nunc mihi, mox aliis (today
mine, soon somebody else’s) is the phrase on the ex-libris of the
great collector Sir A. W. Franks (see 3b/2). In the Middle Ages and
during the Renaissance, people were perhaps more conscious of
the threat and proximity of death than in modern times. The
skeleton with a scythe coming to mow down the flower of youth
was common in Mediaeval imagery, and ex-libris from all periods
abound in which the owner is reminded that his vanity of ownership
is but a passing one. It is the theme of Death and the Maiden,
and of many literary and pictorial works. The vanitas theme
should not be confused with medical plates on the subject of the
fight against death, or bookplates relating to the ravages of war.
|
1 / 1  |
 |
4d/1. Hans Conrad Meyer (CH, 1618-1689)  EDLIBACH, C2,
78 x 58, c.1650. Weg1687.
Viz. AFEL 1899 p. 166, Stickelberger p.
35, etc.
The Edlibach family of Zurich used an ex-libris with a macabre ‘helm’ and crest: a skull with a bone in its mouth and a pleased-looking worm going through its eyes. The crest is an hour-glass, a reminder of the passage of time. |
4d/2. ? (CH) JOHANN JAKOB & JOHANN RUDOLF SCHMID, C2,
119 x 103, 1672. Weg6347.
Viz. AFEL 1899 pl. 20, ELJ 1899 p.II, vol.
9, etc.
This fascinating plate for two brothers gives one a feeling that it is like a talisman against death, and a strong belief in the Resurrection is apparent from the biblical quotations. Obviously the artist was not really at ease with the anatomy of a skeleton, but tried his best! |
 |
 |
4d/3. P. Hürnlimann (CH) A. R. D. NICOLAUS LANG, C2, 73 x
70, c.1680. Weg4231.
Lang was a doctor of theology, apostolic notary and secretary of the parish of Ettiswyl. Breves sunt dies hominis... sola Aeternitas longa (Brief are the days of man... only eternity is long). The skull is rather jolly, though probably the artist did not intend it to be so. |
4d/4. A. M. Wernerin & C. F. Boetius (D, 1706-1782)
MORITZ KARL CHRISTIAN WOOG, C2, 131 x 70, c.1750.
A fascinating and rare plate amongst several engraved by Boetius for the Dean of Oschatz and Dresden. W 2517 is a different but similar composition, with the skeleton undraped and Biblioteca Woogiana in the cartouche at the top. It is illustrated in many books on ex-libris (i. a. Zur Westen p. 27). This different version is unrecorded, and was formerly in the Dick-Lauder collection. |
1 / 1  |
 |
4d/5. Josef Sattler (D, 1867-1931) PAUL BüCHER, L,
105 x 69, 1894.
Viz. DEG Cent/2, p. 57.
Sattler was the artist who brought German pictorial ex-libris into modernity. Strongly influenced by Renaissance art and the ‘Kleinmeistern’ he made many ex-libris which played on the name of the owner, such as this one (Bücher = books). |
4d/6. Josef Farago (H, 1866-1906) GUSTAV DIRNER, C3, 142 x
70, 1903. GM2438.
Viz. Zur Westen p. 156, ill.
Farago, a well-known painter, designer and caricaturist produced what has become a great classic in vanitas images for bookplate collectors. The woman and peacock are a paradigm of vanity; elegant Death with his top hat lurks behind, waiting... |
1 / 1  |
 1 / 1 |
4d/7. Stanislav Kulhanek (CZ, 1885-1970) RUDOLF
GRAEBER, C3, 107 x 48, 1918.
One of Kulhanek’s early ex-libris, as it is opus 46 out of more than 300. Note the subtle gesture of Death who covers the Maiden’s eyes so she soes not see who is seducing her. |
4d/8. Edouard François Devambez (F, 1844-1921) GEORGES
EMMANUEL LANG, C1, 55 x 41, c.1900.
Viz GMN p. 195. The collector of ex-libris is directly aimed at in this plate. The skeleton holds open a tomb with ‘ex-libris’ written on the lid, and on the side, ‘after us...’ and a large question mark. |
 |
 |
4d/9. Joaquim Renart (E, 1879-1961) FRANCISCO
MONSALVATJE, P7, 81 x 73, 1923.
Renart was another famous designer and illustrator of the Barcelona group active in the 1900-1930 period. A woman embraces lovingly a precious book with the arms of Catalonia, and Death is gently prising her away. |
4d/10. Alfred Liebing (D, 1864-1957) JOAN BAUCIS, C3,
140 x 87, c.1910.
Again an artist of the Leipzig school, of the earlier generation. The ex-libris looks innocent enough, until one notices that the woman is standing on an enormous skull. Again, the peacock is the symbol of vanity. |
4d11 - 4d20 4d21 - 4d29
| Ex-Libris | Art Prints | Kara Art Home |