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Art History
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Physiognomy For Artists
ELSHOLTZ, Joannis Sigismund. Anthropometria Accessit Doctrina Naevorum. Padua, Matthaeus Cadorini, 1654.
4to., (4) ff., 99, (5) pp., with 7 woodcuts in text. Bound in contemporary flexible vellum, title stenciled on spine in ink. Discrete former library stamp and ownership inscription on title. Small wormhole through partial letter on title, burn hole on pp. 45-6 with loss of a few words, and paper flaw on pp. 56-7 affecting 3 or 4 letters. Several leaves evenly toned and some minor soiling on others, but generally very fresh. Very good.
$3,850 Rare first edition of this erudite physiognomical treatise designed for artists and sculptors as well as physicians and a wide lay audience, developing the analogy between the human body and the universe, and its proper proportions and symmetry. The work also treats astrological chiromancy, giving figures of the planetary lines on the hands and on the sole of the foot (both pictured), and treats the gruesome (but widespread) antiquarian question of the posture of the human body when crucified, of obvious interest to practicing artists since it figured in the most common of all commissions.
The work was published in Padua (and is the only edition printed in Italy) because the German Elsholtz (1623-1688) was studying there. German printed editions followed after his return. Elsholtz was physician to the Elector of Brandenburg, and headed the botanical garden there. He was in the forefront of experimenting with intravenous injection, and may well have performed such injections before J.D. Major.
* Krivatsy 3635; Thorndike VIII.465-6.
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