Why did Antonio de Nebrija draw faces into a Dutch book from 1480?

The humanist Antonio de Nebrija (c. 1444-d.1522) was a serious scholar, renowned for his work on the Spanish language. His hidden talent for drawing expressive faces, however, is less well known.

Anna Dlabacová • August 21, 2020

Picture Perfect: The Life of a Fifteenth-Century Woodcut

Early printers often re-used their woodcuts. Previously created images could find new homes in a variety of texts. This post traces the life of a particular image that became the ideal image for the title page of a “love letter” from Christ.

Anna Dlabacová • March 20, 2020

Following French Fashion: The Dutch Book of Hours in Print

On 16 August 1491, the most prolific printer of the Low Countries at the time, Gerard Leeu (d. 1492) published his only edition of a Book of Hours in Dutch. The book itself, however, looks French. Why was Leeu swayed by French fashion?

Anna Dlabacová • May 17, 2019

Throw Away that Tedious Text! 15th-Century Illustrated Books in 18th- and 19th-Century Hands

Studying fifteenth-century books can be a frustrating task, especially if former owners decided to throw away the text. But the changing attitudes towards early printed books are equally fascinating.

Anna Dlabacová • November 13, 2018

Who’s That Guy? Identity Crisis in a Fifteenth-century Woodcut

In fifteenth-century illustrated printed books printers regularly re-used their illustrations. When working with this material, a feeling of déjà-vu is not uncommon. But sometimes you recognize just one person, and you ask yourself: Who’s that guy?

Anna Dlabacová • January 19, 2018

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Why did Antonio de Nebrija draw faces into a Dutch book from 1480?

Picture Perfect: The Life of a Fifteenth-Century Woodcut

Following French Fashion: The Dutch Book of Hours in Print

Throw Away that Tedious Text! 15th-Century Illustrated Books in 18th- and 19th-Century Hands

Who’s That Guy? Identity Crisis in a Fifteenth-century Woodcut