Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Leaf from De officiis (On Duties) by Marcus Tullius Cicero; Imprint: Printed in Venice by Wendelin of Spire, 4 July 1472
Leaf from De officiis (On Duties) by Marcus Tullius Cicero; Imprint: Printed in Venice by Wendelin of Spire, 4 July 1472

Leaf from De officiis (On Duties) by Marcus Tullius Cicero; Imprint: Printed in Venice by Wendelin of Spire, 4 July 1472

Printer Wendelin of Speyer Italian, Venice, active 1469–1477
DateJuly 4, 1472
MediumInk on paper
Dimensions10 11/16 x 7 3/8 in. (27.1 x 18.7 cm)
ClassificationsBook Arts
Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. Abram Kanof
Object numberG.76.12.8
On View
Not on view
Label TextIn 1468 German goldsmith Johann of Speyer moved from Mainz to Venice to establish the first printing press in northern Italy. After producing two editions “with the most beautiful letter forms,” he convinced the Venetian Senate to grant him a five-year monopoly on book printing in Venice. Johan died a few months later, voiding the privilege, but his brother Wendelin continued operating the press until 1477.

This page is from Wendelin’s edition of Cicero’s treatise on fulfilling one’s duties as a citizen, an influential text in Renaissance Italy. It is printed in a new typeface, roman, whose rounded letters were more legible than the angular (Gothic) types associated with northern Europe.
[L. Humphrey, 2022]
ProvenanceCollection of Otto F. Ege, Cleveland, OhioExhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "Glory of Venice: Masterworks of the Renaissance," March 4–June 18, 2017 (Raleigh venue only, was not shown in Denver). Object Rights Statement

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) makes images of its collection available online to support research and scholarship and to inform and educate the public. Certain works of art, as well as the photographs of those works of art, may be protected by copyright, trademark, or related interests not owned by the NCMA. The responsibility for ascertaining whether any such rights exist and for obtaining all other necessary permissions remains with the applicant. To request images and/or permissions from the NCMA, please complete our online request form.

Leaf from La Commedia by Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Commentary by Cristoforo Landino; printed in Venice by Petrus de Plasiis, November 18, 1491
Leaf from La Commedia by Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Commentary by Cristoforo Landino; printed in Venice by Petrus de Plasiis, November 18, 1491
Dante Alighieri
November 18, 1491
Leaf from Die Legend des heyligen Vatters Francisci (Legenda maior) by Bonaventure of Bagnaregio (1260-63): Chapter 8, “Those Freed from Various Illnesses”; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Hieronymus Höltzel for the heirs of Caspar Rosentaler, April 7, 1512
Leaf from Die Legend des heyligen Vatters Francisci (Legenda maior) by Bonaventure of Bagnaregio (1260-63): Chapter 8, “Those Freed from Various Illnesses”; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Hieronymus Höltzel for the heirs of Caspar Rosentaler, April 7, 1512
Hieronymous Höltzel
April 7, 1512
Leaf from Das Narrenschiff (Latin: Stultifera Navis) by Sebastian Brant [woodcut title: 'Socialis navis mechanicorum’] [fol. 138r-v] Imprint title: Printed in Basel by Johann Bergmann de Olpe, March 1, 1497; Latin translation by Jakob Locher
Leaf from Das Narrenschiff (Latin: Stultifera Navis) by Sebastian Brant [woodcut title: 'Socialis navis mechanicorum’] [fol. 138r-v] Imprint title: Printed in Basel by Johann Bergmann de Olpe, March 1, 1497; Latin translation by Jakob Locher
Sebastian Brandt
March 1, 1497
Leaf from the Halberstadt Bible: Title page to the second of two volumes Printed in Halberstadt by Lorenz Stuchs, July 8, 1522
Leaf from the Halberstadt Bible: Title page to the second of two volumes Printed in Halberstadt by Lorenz Stuchs, July 8, 1522
Lorenz Stuchs
July 8, 1522
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: folio CCCCIv, from Ezekiel 23–24; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, February 17, 1483
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: folio CCCCIv, from Ezekiel 23–24; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, February 17, 1483
Anton Koberger
February 17, 1483
Leaf from a book of hours for Roman use: from the Seven Penitential Psalms (Ps. 6, Ps. 31) Imprint: Printed in Paris by Thielman Kerver for Guillaume Eustace on March 15, 1500
Leaf from a book of hours for Roman use: from the Seven Penitential Psalms (Ps. 6, Ps. 31) Imprint: Printed in Paris by Thielman Kerver for Guillaume Eustace on March 15, 1500
Thielman Kerver
March 15, 1500
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: folio CCCIIr, from Ezekiel 25–27; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, February 17, 1483
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: folio CCCIIr, from Ezekiel 25–27; Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, February 17, 1483
Anton Koberger
February 17, 1483
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: Joseph Accused by Potiphar’s Wife (Genesis 39); Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, 17 February 1483
Leaf from the “Ninth German Bible”: Joseph Accused by Potiphar’s Wife (Genesis 39); Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, 17 February 1483
Anton Koberger
February 17, 1483
Leaf from Das Narrenschiff (Latin: Stultifera Navis) by Sebastian Brant [ [‘Latina nauis seu barca socialis’ (Latin ship or social boat)] Imprint title: Printed in Strasbourg by Johann (Reinhard) Grüninger, June 1, 1497; Latin translation by Jakob Locher
Leaf from Das Narrenschiff (Latin: Stultifera Navis) by Sebastian Brant [ [‘Latina nauis seu barca socialis’ (Latin ship or social boat)] Imprint title: Printed in Strasbourg by Johann (Reinhard) Grüninger, June 1, 1497; Latin translation by Jakob Locher
Sebastian Brandt
June 1, 1497
Leaf from the Lübeck Bible: The Numbering of the Children of Israel (Numbers 26:51); Imprint: Printed in Lübeck by Steffen Arndes, November 19, 1494
Leaf from the Lübeck Bible: The Numbering of the Children of Israel (Numbers 26:51); Imprint: Printed in Lübeck by Steffen Arndes, November 19, 1494
Steffen Arndes
1494
Leaf from a missal (use unknown) with the mass for the vigil of Saint Andrew the apostle and commemorations of saints Saturninus, Chrysanthus, Maurus, and Daria (November 29) [Sanctorale, p. clxxi] Imprint: Printed in Basel circa 1470–80
Leaf from a missal (use unknown) with the mass for the vigil of Saint Andrew the apostle and commemorations of saints Saturninus, Chrysanthus, Maurus, and Daria (November 29) [Sanctorale, p. clxxi] Imprint: Printed in Basel circa 1470–80
Unknown manuscript illuminator
circa 1470–1480
Leaf from Schatzbehalter der wahren Reichtümer des Heils (Treasury of the True Riches of Salvation) by Stephan Fridolin (d. 1498): Jephthah and his Daughter (Judges 11:39); Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, November 8, 1491
Leaf from Schatzbehalter der wahren Reichtümer des Heils (Treasury of the True Riches of Salvation) by Stephan Fridolin (d. 1498): Jephthah and his Daughter (Judges 11:39); Imprint: Printed in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, November 8, 1491
Anton Koberger
November 8, 1491