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Antithesis figurata vitae Christi et Antichristi

Author: Martin Luther (German, 1483–1546)
Author: Philipp Melanchthon (German, 1497–1560)
Illustrated by: Lucas Cranach, the Elder (German, 1472–1553)
Illustrated by: Hans Cranach (German, died in 1537)
Printer: Johann Grünenberg (German, 16th century)
1521
Place of Publication: Wittenberg, Germany

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with woodcut title and 26 woodcuts
Dimensions Overall: 18.8 x 15.3 x 2 cm (7 3/8 x 6 x 13/16 in.)
Credit Line Museum Purchase
Accession NumberM20037
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Wittenberg: Johann Grünenberg, 1521

Catalogue Raisonné Dodgson, German and Flemish II, 324-25; Hollstein, German, VI, 40-42, cat. 66a-z, Edition IV (illustrations); 169, cat. 36 (title border); Benzing, Lutherbibliographie, 1024
Description[Wittenberg: Johann Grünenberg, 1521] Quarto; 14 leaves; modern vellum boards, reddish-brown cloth slipcase.

Illustrations: decorative title border and opposed scenes from the lives of Christ and the AntiChrist (here personified by the pope).

The first and only Latin edition, published in the same year as (and likely prior to) the Passional Christi und Antichristi in German. There were later editions with these cuts, and counterfeits were published almost immediately. The text was begun by Luther and finished by Melanchthon. The woodcuts have been attributed to both Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Cranach (Dodgson); the title border is given to the Cranach workshop by Hollstein.

An inscription on the front flyleaf mentions "one copy on recto of C."
ProvenanceKarl W. Hiersemann (antiquarian book dealer; b. 1854 - d. 1928), Leipzig; December 15, 1903, purchased from him by the MFA.