Printer's device of johannes froben. Tempera on canvas, heightened with gold, 44 × 31 cm, kunstmuseum basel. Johann (latin johannes) froben (c. 1460–1527) was a noted printer in basel, for whom holbein worked and whose portrait he painted. Holbein probably painted the device to hang in froben's printing shop; and it has survived because froben's grandson gave it to the holbein collector basilius amerbach in 1583. According to art historian john rowlands: "the advice of st matthew, 10:16, is symbolized by the pagan image of mercury's staff, the symbol of concord, on which a dove is perched between two serpents: "behold, i send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves". [1] mercury is traditionally regarded as the god of commerce and trade. Holbein did not invent the device, which froben had used in his publications from 1517. References
↑ john rowlands, holbein: the paintings of hans holbein the younger, boston: david r. Godine, 1985, isbn 0879235780, p. 128. Object Type: painting. Date: circa 1523.
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