Alberti Dureri clarissimi pictoris et Geometræ de Sym¯etria partium in rectis formis hu¯anorum corporum/ Libri in latinum conversi. Lectori [verse by Jo.] - [Dürer's monogram]
[Hierinn sind begriffen vier Bücher von menschlicher Proportion., Latin., , 1532.]
Variant Title
De Symmetria
Imprint
(Norimbergæ: excudebatur opus æstate Anni A Christo servatore genito M.D.xxxii.), (In ædib. viduæ Durerianæ.)
Physical Description
[160] p. (incl. last blank leaf): illus. [85 are full-page]; 306 mm. (Mostly in sixes. A-E6, F4, G-N6, O4.)
Contents
[T.p., privilege.] - Aequis et Studiosis bonarum artium Lectorib: - In libros symmetriôn Alberti Düreri prolegomena ad Cristophorum Colerum ... ; Partium humani corporis nomina quarum in his Libris mentio fit (by Jo. Ca. Qu.) - [Two poems by H. Eobanus Hessus] - [Text and illus.]; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
H. Davies states that the author of the prolegomena, 'Jo. Ca. Qu.', was Joachim 'Camerarius' (i.e. Joachim Liebhard the elder).
The illustrations are not signed.
References
H. Davies, Catalogue Of A Collection Of Early German Books In The Library Of C. Fairfax Murray (repr.), No. 152, p.288.
J. Selz, Albrecht Dürer: le peintre, le graveur et le théoreticien (1996); A. Dürer, The writings of Albrecht Dürer, tr. and ed. W.M. Conway (1958); E. Panofsky, 'Dürer as a theorist of art', in E. Panofsky, Albrecht Dürer, vol. I (1943), p.260-84.
Studies of proportion include E. Panofsky, 'The history of the theory of human proportions as a reflection of the history of styles', in Meaning in the visual arts (1955), p.55-107; V. Mortet, 'La mesure de la figure humaine et le canon des proportions d'aprs les dessins de Villard d'Honnecourt, d'Albert Dürer et de Léonard de Vinci', in Mélanges offerts à M. Emile Chatelain (1910), p.367-71.
Summary Note
This is a Latin translation of the first two books of Albrecht Dürer's Hierinn sind begriffen vier Bücher von menschlicher Proportion (1528). The Latin translation of the third and fourth books was published in 1534 (Clariss. Pictoris et Geometrae Alberti Dureri/ de varietate figurarum et flexuris partium ac gestib. imaginum /libri duo /qui priorib. de symmetria quondam editis /nunc primum in latinum conversi accesserunt. Anno M.D.XXXiiii.).
In these two books Dürer discusses methods of measuring and representing human proportion.
Many illustrations are full-page. The book also carries Dürer's monogram on the title page.
Reproductions
Microfiche versions were published in 1998 (Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Cicognara Program) and in 1993 (München: Saur).
Binding Note
16th-century sheep; rebacked in 18th century, rebacked in 20th century retaining earlier gilt-decorated spine-piece lettered 'Nor', red morocco spine-label lettered 'Durer De Symmetria Partium'. Bound with one other.
Subject
People - Men - Women - Proportion
Treatises - Germany - 16th century
Translations from German - Translations into Latin - Germany - 16th century
Pictorial works - Woodcuts - Germany - 16th century