Information not yet known or updated

Inscription: Recto: upper left corner, graphite: "962/69 (59)"; centre, black ink: "3 // INTRODUCTION. // The first account of the Prayer-book to which these drawings of Albert Durer are attached // is given by Joachim von Sandrart, in his German Academy of the Fine arts, Architecture, // Sculpture, and Painting, (Nurnberg, published by Jacob von Sandrart, 1675, fol. Part II., // book iii., p. 224.) where he writes: - " I have moreover seen a Breviary with drawings upon // parchment, belonging to his Electoral Highness, Maximilian of Bavaria, in which Albert Durer // has most ingeniously executed with the pen, and in different colours, figures of all the saints, // according to their names, and also curious ornaments, foliage, and grotesque subjects, so that // it is considered as one of the greatest master-pieces of his hand." In the later edition of this // work, by John Jacob Volkmann, this account is much compressed; for we are there told // (Vol. VII., p. 221),-" At the above-mentioned Elector's (Maximilian of Bavaria), Sandrart // saw a whole book of drawings of saints upon parchment, together with many embellishments." // In the Journal entitled Deutschland's Aufklarung im neunzehnten Jahrhundert, No. XII., // August, 1805, p.323, in the note we find the following remarks on the drawings in this // Prayer-book:-" In the Electoral Library at Munich is to be seen a Prayer-book, containing // arabesques and figures drawn by Albert Durer. Most of them are taken from his wood-cuts. // according as he found them suitable to the prayers attached: hence they display the stiffness // of his early efforts, as well as the purity of his later style. Few of them are new ideas. // Among these drawings is one (No. VI. in the copy) representing the Virgin of the // Apocalypse, which affords the most striking demonstration of Durer's genius. The female // form, and the harmony of its different parts, together with the inimitable grace of the attitude, // render the composition one of the most beautiful that can possibly be conceived upon this // subject. It would be difficult to find a female form so exquisite in all the works of // Raphael: - at least, we are not acquainted with any. On the other hand, St John, writing // in Patmos, is all greatness and prophetic sublimity - in the same style as Durer's Apostles in // the Electoral Gallery. If we may be allowed the comparison, these two figures form just"; lower left corner, graphite: "G.1990.WL.3276.3".