Cronica Cronicarum (...), blad 8 verso Possibly 1521 - 1529

This is a page from the Cronica Cronicarum, printed in the late 15th century, most likely in what is now Germany. It's an early example of the kind of illustrated book that was made possible by the invention of the printing press. At its heart, we see an attempt to map world history and genealogy. The image creates meaning through visual codes. Genealogy and history are presented as a series of family connections and successions in a hierarchical structure. The text refers to popes and emperors. It is interested in establishing a sense of legitimate authority. The printer also makes a claim to authority in the ‘Cum Privilegio’ at the bottom, staking a legal claim over the right to reproduce the image. For the historian, this book is interesting not just for its content, but for what it tells us about the institutions in which it was produced. By consulting printing records, guild regulations, and legal documents, we can get a better sense of how the image was made and circulated in its own time.