HOCHSCHÄTZBARER SEELEN EHREN THRON

(ENGRAVED PRAYER BOOK). (FINE BAROQUE BINDING). WENING, MICHAEL, Engraver

Published by Michael Wening, München [Munich], 1683

About this Item

175 x 117 mm. (6 7/8 x 4 5/8"). 8 p.l., 38, [12] leaves. Very pretty, almost certainly contemporary dark red morocco, gilt, covers framed by multiple gilt rules, fleuron side- and cornerpieces in lobed compartments, central panel with inner frame of repeating floral rolls, palmette sprays at corners and sides, raised bands, spine compartments with central quatrefoil, volute cornerpieces, red paste paper endpapers, all edges gilt. ENGRAVED THROUGHOUT, WITH 112 COPPER ENGRAVINGS, 22 OF THEM FULL-PAGE, the others either as large figures flanking the text or as small, massed images in frames around it. Graesse VII, 435; VD17 23:238964Z. â Boards tending to splay very slightly, one opening slightly soiled, one leaf with old repair to tail margin (not affecting engraving), otherwise very fine, the leaves especially fresh and clean, and THE BINDING REMARKABLY WELL PRESERVED, with virtually no signs of wear. This is a charming little devotional book done by the court engraver to the Elector of Bavaria, with imaginative illustrations and in a lovely binding. Born and trained in Nuremberg, Michael Wening (1645-1718) moved in 1669 to Catholic Munich, where he applied to the court to do engraving work, after wisely shedding his Protestantism; six years later, he was named court engraver. Having subsequently founded a publishing company, he began producing illustrated calendars, then--as commissions from the Elector--providing battle scenes celebrating Bavarian victories against the incursions of the Ottoman Empire. The present work, "Esteemed Souls, Honor the Throne," offers guidance for personal devotions to God and the Saints. Although it has prayers in the vernacular German used by Protestants rather than the Latin decreed for Catholics, the book nevertheless would seem to be linked to Wening's new faith: in addition to a frontispiece illustration of the Last Supper, the sequence of full-page plates shows St. Charles Borromeo, a leader in the Counter-Reformation, celebrating Mass. Accompanied by two acolytes--and often a small angel--the priest performs the rituals, as scenes from the Bible play out in the clouds above the altar. Following the final Benediction in the Mass, there are further prayers to female saints (pictured in pairs on either side of the text), and to Christ and his mother. Wening's martial court engravings influence one of the final plates, showing an Angel blowing a trumpet to sound Victory over the infidel Turks. The engravings are richly detailed, with complex scenes playing out in small vignettes, and composed with artistry and skill. The binding's very pretty gilding is fresh and delicate in comparison with other somber and weighty blind-stamped volumes of the period, and seems to be a harbinger of 18th century styles. Seller Inventory # ST18259

Bibliographic Details

Title: HOCHSCHÄTZBARER SEELEN EHREN THRON

Publisher: Michael Wening, München [Munich]

Publication Date: 1683