Johann Georg Weidenkeller album amicorum

Content Description

This collection contains an album amicorum of Johann Georg Weidenkeller (1584-1653) made while he was a student in Freiburg im Breisgau. Weidenkeller, who came from an influential Freiburg family, was secretary to the suffragan bishop of Basel and cathedral scholaster. Album amicorum were an early friendship and autograph book. The manuscript is ink on paper comprised of 173 leaves with twenty-eight miniatures in gouache including one full-page allegorical depiction on the verso of the first leaf, twenty-four coats of arms (two mounted) mostly with motto and entry, two full-page depictions of women's costumes (one with coat of arms), and one depiction of a flag-waving lansquenet, a German mercenary foot soldiers, as well as nine text entries without pictorial contribution. Most of the entries date 1605-1609, all written in Latin, mainly by students or scholars from the University of Freiburg im Breisgau belonging to notable families of Southwest Germany and Alsace. Among the contributors are: Ferdinand Georg, Freiherr in Froberg, rector of the university in 1605; Rudolph von Molart Freiher von Reineck und Drosendorf (dated from Dôle 1609); Albert Hyrns von Schönau; Johann Christoph von Ampringen, father of Johann Caspar, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; Johann Christoph von Breitenlandenberg; Johann Ludwig Zorn de Bulach (1592-1668); Jacob Christoph Blarer von Wartensee (1542-1608), restorer of the declining prince-bishopric of Basel and one of the most prominent representatives of Catholic reform in Switzerland; Clemens Closmann; Johann von Giffen (+1656), jurist and envoy of the Teutonic Order and the Imperial Knighthood of Lower Alsace to the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia; Theodor von Welden (dated from Dôle 1609); Johann Wilhelm von Stotzingen; Lucas Theodor von Reischach; David Schmidlin; Wilhelm Meyer; Johann Georg Stemler (dated from Speyer 1610); Johann Georg Biegeisen (+1638) from Altkirch, jurist deiplomat and chancellor of the diocese of Strasbourg; Johann Sebastian Reisseissen, member of an influential family from Stasbourg; Friedrich von Sickingen, a member of the famous Kraichgau noble family; Justinian Moser von Weiler (+1633), archducal secretary, etc. This volume is bound in contemporary calf with a gilt embossed plate on both covers and the bookbinder's mark WL; all edges are gilt. It is in a modern slipcase.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Purchased from Erasmushaus, 10 June 2024.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No