Folium CCXXXVI from the Nuremberg Chronicle.

This leaf, Folium CCXXXVI (verso) from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493), is part of one of the most ambitious and influential illustrated books of the 15th century. Compiled by Hartmann Schedel and printed by Anton Koberger, the Nuremberg Chronicle presents a sweeping history of the world, interweaving religious narratives, biblical events, historical figures, and medieval conceptions of geography and knowledge. Published in both Latin and German editions, the chronicle features hundreds of woodcut illustrations created by Michael Wolgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, with possible contributions from a young Albrecht Durer. A landmark in early book illustration, it remains a testament to the era’s fascination with history, scholarship, and artistic achievement.

The recto of this leaf highlights several prominent scholars, physicians, and theologians of the late medieval period. It mentions John Riiszbroch, a devout and enlightened writer of the German language, and Henricus Yota and Henricus of Hesse, both esteemed teachers of Holy Scripture in Vienna. The legal scholars Baldus of Perugia and Bartholomeus de Saliceto are noted for their extensive contributions to civil and imperial law, while Nicholas of Florence and Marsilius de St. Sophia are praised for their advancements in medicine. John of Ravenna, a distinguished grammarian and rhetorician, is credited with reviving the art of elocution in Italy, following the teachings of Francis Petrarch. Perhaps most significantly, Emanuel Chrysoloras of Constantinople is celebrated for reintroducing Greek scholarship to Italy after centuries of decline. His influence spread through Venice, Florence, and Rome, attracting a following of notable students, including Poggio Florentino, who later eulogized him after his death at the Council of Constance. This page exemplifies the Nuremberg Chronicle’s dedication to preserving the intellectual and cultural figures who shaped the transition from the medieval to the early Renaissance world.