Dilich, Wilhelm

De Electoribus Saxonicis Sacri Romani Imperii Archimarschallis libri tres (i.e. duo) co(n)scripti. Wittenberg?, c. 1593



Autograph manuscript. Small folio (290 x 191 mm.). Written in a calligraphic humanist cursive, in dark brown ink. 32-35 lines, writing area c. 145 x 95 mm., plus headline and some original marginalia. 1 f. (lower blank half expertly renewed), [4] pp., 1 blank f., 1 f., [3] pp., 1 f., 37 pp., 1 blank f., 1 f., [1] p., pp. 38-180, 1 blank f. = [102] ff. ; some light marginal staining or foxing. 23 nearly full-page oval pen-and-ink portrait drawings and 6 smaller armorial drawings; many initials with decorative pen flourishes. Contemporary, probably original, Saxon vellum in the style of Krause bindings, blind floral roll borders and corner-pieces in dense strapwork design, decorative strapwork center-pieces incorporating in the oval centers the arms of Saxony (front) and Brandenburg (back), back in five compartments, each with a central floral stamp, old paper title label, edges gilt and gauffred; ties missing, slightly rubbed, arms originally gilt, now mostly worn off.

Majorats-Bibliothek Pitschen (today Byczyna, Poland, stamp on the 4th leaf) -- Ian Woodner

Chr. Krollmann, Introduction to Dilich, Federzeichnungen, 3 vols. (1907), I, 5-28; R. Steche, "Zu W.Dilichs Tätigkeit in Sachsen", Zs.f.bild.Kunst 24 (1889), 316 ff.

An unrecorded chronicle, written and decorated with extraordinarily fine drawings by Wilhelm Dilich (or Dilich-Scheffer, c.1571-1650), one of the most versatile German artist-scholars of the early Baroque. As an accomplished artist, architect, engineer, topographer, and historian he started out in the service of Landgraf Moritz of Hesse who allowed him frequent trips to Saxony before he fell into disgrace; he was imprisoned but managed to escape with the help of his friend Johann Melchior Schwalbach, a fellow Hessian in Saxon service with similar professional interests, who arranged for Dilich's employment by the Elector of Saxony, Johann Georg I, in 1625.

On one of his early trips to Saxony, Dilich wrote a little treatise De Electoribus Saxonicis libri III, an unpublished and unillustrated manuscript dedicated to Landgraf Moritz in 1590, which later was acquired by the Royal Library of Dresden (Ms. Q 141). Krollman (p. 8) indicates that Dilich had already envisioned illustrations for this treatise, but lacked the time to carry them out. It is in the present, hitherto unrecorded, manuscript of the same title that he renews his effort and illustrates his account of the lives of the Saxon Electors with 22 portrait drawings of them, an added portrait of Luther, and six armorial drawings. Unfortunately, as hinted at on the last page ("exiguitas temporis iubet"), he completed only the first two books of text and illustrations; a third one would have covered Electors after 1532 and a topography of Saxony. The manuscript is signed "D" at the end of the "Monitio" and is in the same calligraphic hand as other known autographs by Dilich (see W. Schade, Dresdener Zeichnungen, 1969, p.32).

The text starts with an "Ad Lectorem Monitio", followed by Preface to Book I and an explanation of the symbols used in the marginalia. Book I (pp. 1-37) discusses the origins, rights and obligations of Electors or Archmarshals of the Holy Roman Empire and especially of Saxony; this Book is adorned by a portrait of Johann Friedrich der Grossmütige. Book II (pp.39-180) gives a chronicle of the lives of Saxon leaders from Hermann Billung (d. 973) to Johann der Beständige (d. 1532). Each vita is accompanied by a portrait captioned with distichs by Johannes Hartmann, professor of mathematics at Marburg and friend of the author, whose name is revealed on p. 58.

The pen-and-ink drawings are of the highest artistic quality; they are, indeed, so fine that a cursory inspection might mistake them for engravings (and it may well be that Dilich planned to publish this manuscript as a series of engravings). Dilich's figures are clearly influenced by Dürer, Aldegrever, and Cranach, and the portraits of more recent Electors are probably copied (no. 1 from Cranach jr.: Hollstein 34; no. 21 from Cranach sr.: H.129; no. 22 probably from Melchior Lorichs: H.30; no. 23 from Cranach sr.: H.130). But it is in the extremely detailed landscape or architectural backgrounds that Dilich excels, distancing even a Merian and revealing his considerable talents as an architect and engineer.

List of the Drawings

1. p. 15 Johann Friedrich I der Grossmütige (1503-1554); cityscape with coronation procession in the background.

2. 43 Hermann Billung (d. 973), as a bearded old man, seated at a table.

3. 47 Benno (d. 1007), in his official robe, standing at a balustrade; river landscape in the background.

4. 51 Bernhard I (d. 1011), standing at a window, looking back over his shoulder; wide landscape with castle and soldiers in the background.

5. 57 Ordulf (d. 1070), meditating under a tree; a burning castle and fighting soldiers in the background.

6. 61 Magnus (d. 1106), in a majestic pose, fashionably dressed; a town and a castle in the background.

7. 69 Lothar von Supplinburg, later emperor Lothar III (d. 1125), at a balustrade, looking out on a wide landscape of fields, a cathedral in the background.

8. 81 Heinrich der Stolze (d. 1189), in stern profile, giving orders to a soldier; a Renaissance castle and mountains in the background.

9. 97 Heinrich der Löwe (d. 1195) riding a wild, prancing horse. A spectacular composition, showing only a segment of rider and horse.

10. 107 Bernhard II, von Askanien (d. 1212), leaning on his sword; river landscape with foot soldiers in the background.

11. 115 Albrecht I (d. 1263), seated at a table in his tent; a busy river port and soldiers in the background.

12. 119 Albrecht II (d. 1312), seated in his tent, looking out on a wide landscape, a town and people.

13. 123 Rudolf I (d. 1347), portrayed as a marshal with his baton.

14. 129 Rudolf II (d. 1370), with dagger and sword; a detailed town view and a river in the background.

15. 133 Wenceslaus (c.1379), giving an order; town with soldiers in the background.

16. 137 Rudolf III (d. 1419), seated happily under a tree, holding a sword in his right hand; hilly landscape with a large city in the background.

17. 141 Albrecht III (d. 1427), seated at a window table, addressing a messenger; conflagration and firemen in the background.

18. 147 Friedrich I der Streitbare (d. 1428), leading a regiment, his armored left hand on his sword.

19. 157 Friedrich II der Sanftmütige (d. 1452), standing in a majestic pose, holding a battle-axe in his right hand; a battle camp in the battleground.

20. 163 Ernst (d. 1486), leaning over a balcony; stone masons at work; a town in the background.

21. 167 Friedrich III der Weise (c. 1525), in Renaissance dress, seated at a table, a book and a rosary before him; another seated person in a hall in the background.

22. 169 Martin Luther, in a fur coat, seated at a table lectern, inkpot and pen on the table, surrounded by books, some of them on shelves, a clock hanging on the wall.

23. 177 Johann der Beständige (d. 1532), seated at a window, holding a book in his left hand, his armor lying in front of him; wide hilly landscape in the background.

The six armorial drawings show the putto-held arms of Hermann (p. 41), Lothar (73), both Heinrichs (85), Bernhard II (109), Rudolf I (125), and Friedrich I (149).