Christopher Plantin and engraved book illustrations in sixteenth-century Europe / Karen L. Bowen and Dirk Imhof.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bowen, Karen Lee.

Contributor:

Imhof, D. (Dirk)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plantin, Christophe, approximately 1520-1589.

Plantin, Christophe.

Publishers and publishing--Europe--History--16th century.

Publishers and publishing.

Illustration of books--Europe--History--16th century.

Illustration of books.

Engraving, European--16th century.

Engraving, European.

Book industries and trade--Europe--History--16th century.

Book industries and trade.

History.

Europe.

Physical Description:

xvi, 458 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Summary:

This is an interdisciplinary study of Christopher Plantin's pioneering role in the production and distribution of books with engraved and etched illustrations in sixteenth-century Europe. Using the rich archival sources at the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Belgium, Karen Bowen and Dirk Imhof examine the artists who worked on these illustrations, the types of illustrations that appealed to specific markets, and the technological, cultural, and economic constraints under which Christopher Plantin operated as he ventured into this new area of publishing. They demonstrate how Plantin's innovations led to a revolutionary change in taste for book illustrations, and place his work within the broader context of the European book trade of the late sixteenth century and Antwerp's political, economic, cultural, and religious history. This is a major contribution to the history of the book, art history, and the economic and social history of early modern Europe.

Contents:

Matters of notation and abbreviations xiii

Introduction: precedents for Plantin's work 1

1 Printing with intaglio illustrations 17

2 "L'excellente, & fameuse Cite d'Anvers": Antwerp and its artists 31

3 Plantin's first projects with engravings (1559-1571) 60

4 Liturgical editions and the spread of engraved book illustrations 122

5 The 1580s and Plantin's etched book illustrations 177

6 Plantin prints for others' editions with intaglios 248

1 The artists who worked on Plantin's intaglio illustrations 321

2 Plantin's price calculating schema for his liturgical editions 359

3 Sales of Plantin's editions with intaglio illustrations 364

4 Inventories of Plantin's stock of copper plates 376

5 Editions with intaglio illustrations that Plantin printed for others 393.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 429-445) and index.

ISBN:

9780521852760

0521852765

OCLC:

166357554