MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - DR01.jpg

CategoryDrawing
Origin: artist/workshopHans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543); printer - John Froben
Date16C/1
Reference NoInv 1662.166, f K 2v
Size
ProvenanceBasel
Present LocationBasel, Oeffentliche Kunstsammlung, Amerbach Collection
BibliographyErasmus 1931, 2:23

Illustration FromErasmus 1931
Other illustrationsBerlioz 1990, 119

CountrySwitzerland
Description:
The 'Encomium Moriae' ('Praise of Folly') written by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam for Thomas More was first published in 1511 and written shortly before. Forty editions appeared during his lifetime. The 1515 edition printed in Basel had a commentary written by Gerhard Lister, probably under the supervision of Erasmus, and was decorated with marginal drawings hy Hans Holbein the Younger, one of which shows two standing figures of equal size with an open book between them - on the right the cowled figure of Bernard with his hood over his head, on the left the devil with pointed ears, antlers, the beak of a bird, and claws on his feet and hands. Erasmus lists the Seven Verses of Bernard among 'happy delusions', and Lister recounts the story of the devil taunting Bernard with his claim to know the verses whose daily recital would ensure a place in heaven. For another image of Bernard in the 'Praise of Folly', see DR02.