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The Stuart and Mimi Rose Collection /

The Chivalric Romance

Item 15C

Theuerdank Die Geuerlicheiten und Einsteils

1517
First Edition
Hand-Colored Illustrations

This book is a beautiful example of a very popular literary form, the chivalric romance: tales of heroic adventures, all in a search for love. Theuerdank tells of the dangerous and heroic adventures of Emperor Maximilian I on his journey to claim his bride, Mary of Burgundy. The story was written in rhyming couplets. The knight Theuerdank (a figure representing Maximilian) reaches his bride, vanquishes his enemies, and is finally sent off on a crusade to prove beyond all doubt his worthiness as a Christian knight.

Medieval illustration of two knights in armor on horseback engaged in combat with swords. One knight, wearing yellow armor, is thrusting his lance toward the other knight, clad in grey armor. A castle and hills are in the background, while a man in red observes the battle from the side. Text is partially visible below the scene.
An illustrated medieval scene depicts three men in a forest. On the left, a man in red robes gestures towards the middle, where a man in armor stands near three cannons. On the right, an older man with a beard, wearing robes and a hat holds a staff. Hilly terrain and a river are in the background. Blackletter text is below.
An illuminated manuscript displayed open, showing a color illustration on the left page of a nobly dressed individual kneeling and presenting a gift to a seated woman wearing a crown. The page contains text written in blackletter with decorative flourishes.
An open book with an illustration and blackletter text. The illustration depicts two men on horseback; the man on the left is armored and wielding a lance with a red banner, while the man on the right is dressed in red and holding what may be a sword. The background shows a lush landscape with hills and trees.

What will you discover next?

John Speed Atlas of Great Britain
An open antique book displaying a detailed, colored map of Northampton Shire, England. The map includes two smaller town maps in the upper corners, a compass rose, and intricate calligraphy. Decorative elements like coats of arms and ornate borders surround the map on both pages.

More spectacular hand-colored woodcuts?

Go To Item 14D

Thomas More Utopia
An intricate, monochromatic map illustration titled

Another work of fiction from this same era?

Go To Item 7B

Return to the Rose Collection
A vibrant, symmetrical collage features historical black-and-white photographs of three individuals encircled with colorful floral patterns. The background is filled with intricate designs of butterflies and geometric shapes in shades of teal, coral, and beige.

Return to the Rose Collection

Visit the Folger to see this object on exhibit