Selections from Petrarch's De remediis utriusque fortunae appear in Niclas von Wyle's anthology of translations, a stunning exemplar of an illustrated German sixteenth-century book. Compare the treatment of Fortune's Wheel in the Prague 1501 Czech-language translation of De remediis. Show-through from the too heavily inked verso of the 1536 Augsburg edition slightly mars the effect of the woodcut but, if one makes allowances for the problems caused by sixteenth-century technological deficiencies, this illustration can be recognized as a witty, precise, and merciless depiction of the fate of those who trust to rise by Fortuna's grace.
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Frontispiece
Date info
[Augsburg: durch Haynrich Stayner, Buchtrucker, 18 February] 1536.
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Woodcut allegory depicting a blindfolded Fortune as she turns her wheel. An ass in regal garb rides the top of the wheel.
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Credit
The Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
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Translation, oder Deütschungen des hochgeachten Nicolai von Weil: den zeiten Statschreiber der Statt Esslingen, etlicher Bücher Enee Silvij, Pogij Florentini, Doctoris Felicis Hemerlin, mit sampt anderen Schrifften deren achtzehen nach einander underschydenlichen mit jren Fyguren vnd Titeln, inn disem Büch begriffen sind . . .
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