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2014

2025

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Book Illustration, Liber artificiosus alphabeti maioris, oder, Neu inventirtes Kunst- Schreib- und Zeichenbuch; plate 37

This is a book illustration. It was illustrated by Johann Merken and engraved by Heinrich H. Coentgen and printed by Johann Conrad Eyrich. It is dated 1782–85. Its medium is engraving on paper. It is a part of the Smithsonian Libraries department.

This plate, depicting a portrait artist at work surrounded by an array of curvilinear designs, alphabets, and emblems, is from a remarkable example of 18th-century ornamental typography. The book's 56 plates, illustrated by Merken and engraved by Coentgen, consist of elaborately drawn alphabets and instructions for making ink, making silhouettes, constructing sundials, basic penmanship, drafting, insect collection, and drawing. Its contents also include writing styles, portraits, monograms, calendars, fanciful geometric and architectural figures, emblems, and genealogical tables.

It is credited Collection of Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 23.2 × 73 cm (9 1/8 × 28 3/4 in.)

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/68777355/ |title=Book Illustration, Liber artificiosus alphabeti maioris, oder, Neu inventirtes Kunst- Schreib- und Zeichenbuch; plate 37 |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=6 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>