Die Fugger im Bild (Images of the Fugger Family)
A Renaissance Dynasty Creates Its Own Image
Hardly any other family dynasty in humanist, Renaissance Germany was more powerful or influential than the Fugger, a family of merchants in Augsburg. As bankers to popes and the Emperors Maximilian I and Karl V, they presided over the most important European banking and trading house of their day. In summer 2009 the Bavarian State Library was able to acquire two extremely valuable Fugger family books from the estate of Hubertus, Count Fugger-Babenhausen: a manuscript from 1545-49, the Ehrenbuch der Fugger (Cgm 9460); and a series of hand-coloured, copper engraved portraits, Fuggerorum et Fuggerarum … imagines (Cod.icon. 380), from 1593–1618. Both books are among the most important acquisitions made by the State Library in the past two centuries!
In spring 2010, both volumes were shown in public for the first time, as part of the Bavarian State Library’s “treasure chamber” exhibitions. Quaternio Editions Lucerne has been entrusted with the conception and production of the books accompanying the show.
The Art Book Edition at a Glance: In over 216 pages, with more than 500 colour illustrations and an extensive collection of essays (in German only), this catalogue provides an intriguing perspective of the history of Renaissance books, and insight into one of Germany’s most powerful families. Edited by the Bavarian State Library. Dimensions: 23 × 32.5 cm.
A soft-cover edition of the catalogue is available here for € 24.90 / sFr. 36.– (including delivery costs).
