Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Johann Georg Weidenkeller album amicorum
Weidenkeller, Johann Georg, 1584-1653
Erasmushaus
MSS 16877
Archival Resource Key
/repositories/3/resources/1744
.03 Cubic Feet
1 letter folder
1605-1620
Good.
Latin
1
Scope and Contents
Album amicorums were an early friendship and autograph book. This volume is bound in contemporary calf skin with a gilt embossed plate on both covers and the bookbinder's mark WL; all edges are gilt. It is in a modern slipcase. 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.
Biographical / Historical
Johann Georg Weidenkeller was born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 1584, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. Weidenkeller's use of Latin in his album amicorum, the intricate artwork, and the people who are represented in the pages suggest that he was born to an influential family. After his education, Weidenkeller became the secretary to the suffragan bishop of Basel and cathedral scholaster. Due to his profession, he may have been impacted and participated in some capacity in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) between the Catholic Church and the Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire. Weidenkeller died in 1653.
Conditions Governing Access
This collections is open for research use. Use caution when handling as this item as the binding could be damaged and some of the pictures seem to be glued and could separate from the pages.
Conditions Governing Use
The Library believes that all or nearly all material in this collection is likely to be in the public domain, free of copyright restrictions. Visit our Permissions and Publishing page (https://www.library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/publishing) for more information about use of Special Collections materials. The library can provide copyright information upon request, but users are responsible for making their own determination about lawful use of collections materials.
Preferred Citation
MSS 16877, Johann Georg Weidenkeller album amicorum, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Johann Georg Weidenkeller album amicorum was purchased from Erasmus Rare Books June 11, 2024, by Brenda Gunn. It was accessioned by the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library on August 8, 2024 (2024-0126).
Autograph albums.
Album amicorum
Illuminated manuscripts
Erasmushaus