Perhaps some of your readers may be able to give me information regarding a
large and very elaborate woodcut, which has been many years in my
possession, and obviously has been used as the fly-leaf of some folio
volume, though, of course not originally intended for such a purpose. It is
so complicated, that I fear I shall have some difficulty in explaining it,
and my explanation may require more space than you may be willing to afford
me. You can, however, insert my Query at any time when you have room to
spare.
The size of the engraving, is 16 inches by 13, and it is divided into two
large oblong circles, and a centre; a story being carried on, clearly
allegorically, from the outer circle to the second, and from the second to
the centre. I will speak of each, beginning with the outer, which is
entered by a portico, consisting of two columns and a round arch; on the
base of one of the columns is a monogran of the artist or of the engraver,
formed of the letters R. D. Under the arch is seated a lady richly attired,
who holds a large cup and cover in her left hand, and around her are
fourteen naked children, to one of which she seems tendering the chalice;
while a bearded old man, with a scroll, is directing attention to what is
going on in the outer circle. Passing under this portico we see,
immediately behind it, six ladies, three religious and three secular; while
to the right of the three secular ladies is a naked, winged female figure,
with her foot on a sphere, a large goblet in her right hand, and some
objects that look like fetters in her left hand. To the right of this
figure are many others of both sexes, but nearer the spectator, some
tranquil and some in despair; while, within a sort of pavilion, we see a
young lady and an old gentleman banquetting, and in another compartment in
bed. Still farther to the right of the winged figure are persons who appear
to be escaping from torments, while a young man in rags is making his way
towards a person in a religious habit, who has a scourge in his hand;
behind these are two persons under a miserable thatched shed, while a lady
is pointing out to a young man what is to be observed in the second circle.
This division is entered by another gate consisting of two square
ornamental columns supporting a low gable, beneath which a lady, with a
cross on the cape of her dress, is receiving a young man. The persons in
this circle are very variously employed: on the right of the spectator are
rocks with one man climbing up them, and another fallen headlong: on the
left are five persons, male and female, engaged in singing and playing, and
near them two men performing military music on a drum and fife; to their
right are groups of philosophers and men of science with spheres,
astrolabes, books, compasses, &c., and one wearing a laurel crown with a
scroll in his hand, probably a poet.
We then come to the centre, or inner circle, which is entered by a wooden
gate of the simplest construction, and under it is a religious lady with a
young erect female on her right hand, and a supplicating male, in tattered
garments, on her left. Beyond these are six females, variously clad, some
with flowing hair, some in close caps, and others with _nebulæ_ round their
heads. A little to the right of these is a throned lady, with a crown of
peculiar construction on her head, and a sceptre in her hand, before whom
kneels a female figure, upon whose brows the throned lady is about to place
a coronet. Behind the throne is what appears to be a conventual building of
rather singular appearance, with round, square, and octagon towers, and
surrounded by a battlemented wall. Considerably to the right of the throned
lady is a figure clearly intended for some booted king wearing a crown and
a collar of esses: on one side of him is a severe looking dame, fully clad
and with flowing hair; and on the other a younger lady, also with flowing
hair, and with her bosom bare.
Such is the woodcut regarding which I request some intelligence from your
readers, as I have shown it to several persons, who I thought could
enlighten me, but who could afford me no satisfaction. I suspect, from the
costumes and the edificies, that it is German; and I ought to have
mentioned that each circle is separated from the others by a low stone wall
running all around, and that trees, hills, and fountains are not sparingly
introduced. In the whole, it includes nearly a hundred figures of men,
women, and children.