Death of Simon of Trent, Comet, & Religious & Historic People

About this engraving:

This is one of the most important anti-semitic illustrations of the “Blood Libel” against the Jews. The image depicts the death of Simon of Trent. In the depiction a Christian boy is being shown killed by Jewish men as part of a “ritual murder”. Simon’s death resulted in fifteen Jews being burned at the stake in 1475.

On the verso is a depiction of Halley’s Comet, Cristiernus (Christian) the King of Scandinavia, and Hercules the Duke of Ferrara.

About the work:

This important and historic engraving is from Hartmann Schedel Liber Chronicarum, more commonly known as the Nuremberg Chronicle. This is the first edition / printing of the work. It is the Latin edition that was published 6 months prior to the German edition. Both editions were limited to 2000 printings. It was published in Nuremberg in 1493 by Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister.

The work included numerous illustrations that were completed by Michael Wolgemut, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, and members of their workshop. This very likely included the young Albrecht Dürer as well. The work included maps and town views, but also chronicles historic information including the invention of the printing press, development of the game of chess, navigational voyages, and important constructions.

Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514) was a German writer, physician, and book collector. He is most remembered for his famous work Liber Chronicarum or Nuremberg Chronicle. He published some of the first printed views of many cities.