Who painted An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466?

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466 was painted by German 15th Century in 1466.

Where can I see An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466?

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466 is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466?

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466 is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466

German 15th Century , 1466

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466 is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1466 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

An Easter Calendar Beginning with the Year 1466 is a circular, hand-colored woodcut print on laid paper, featuring a central volvelle (rotatable dial) connected by a string. This functional and decorative piece combines imagery and text to facilitate the tracking of time according to the Easter calendar.

Subject & Meaning

At the center, a figure stands on a cloud, holding a green bow and a red ribbon, surrounded by Latin month names and day numbers. The design reflects medieval timekeeping practices tied to the Easter cycle, with additional floral motifs in smaller circles below.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut in dark brown ink with subsequent hand coloring in yellow, ochre, green, rose, and brown, the piece exhibits simple yet detailed graphics characteristic of early printed materials. The volvelle mechanism allows for interactive adjustment of the calendar.

History & Provenance

The calendar commences with the year 1466, indicating its production around or after this date. However, specific details regarding its creator, original ownership, or transmission through time are not provided.

Context

This artifact represents an early example of printed timekeeping aids, reflecting the intersection of religious observance (Easter's movable date) and the burgeoning technology of woodcut printing in late medieval Europe.

Legacy

As a surviving example of a functional, decorative 15th-century print, it offers insight into medieval daily life, religious practices, and the evolution of printing techniques, contributing to the historical record of early European graphic design and timekeeping methods.