Lucas Cranach The Elder

A very fine, strong and even impression with narrow margins around the borderline, published as an illustration for the "Revelation of John" from the September Testament, Wittenberg 1522. Verso without text, the unprinted back and the early watermark suggest that this is a proof impression, or a print made outside the print run. It was printed by Melchior Lotther the Younger, published by Christian Döring and Lukas Cranach the Elder. Döring, a fellow councillor of Cranach, ran a printing press together with him for a period of time. The woodcuts for the Apocalypse were created in Cranach's workshop. Within the 220 sheets of the September Testament, only the Revelation is illustrated. The influence of Albrecht Dürer’s Apocalypse of 1498 is clearly evident, yet Cranach’s work develops its own visual language. The original printing block was lost as early as 1528. The September Testament itself caused a great deal of sensation immediately upon its publication and had to be reprinted just three months later. The December Testament, however, appeared without the Apocalypse illustrations. This print is an exemplary example of early Reformation book art. – A few tiny spots; the lower left corner is slightly rubbed on the reverse; otherwise in good condition.