And these signatures are what made this book special. These are not just your ordinary signatures, mind you. These are the signatures of many historical figures that we know today.
Between 1596 and 1647, art dealer and diplomat Philipp Hainhofer traveled around Europe amassing an incredibly rich collection of signatures in the “Große Stammbuch,” or “Album Amicorum.” Akin to an autograph book, Hainhofer’s register is replete with the marks of Cosimo II de’ Medici, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, to name a few. Covered in red velvet, “Album Amicorum” was part of a larger trend to record family, friends, and acquaintances that began in the 16th Century.
Hainhofer compiled the signatures during the course of 50 years, beginning when he was a college student. As he gained religious figures and royalty as clients, he’d ask them to sign his book and commissioned about 100 detailed illustrations to sit alongside. The elaborateness of the illustrations directly corresponds to the signatory’s status and rank in society.
Philipp Hainhofer lived for 69 years here on Earth, which means that, for most of his life, he was creating this book. And if that’s not passion, I don’t know what is.
(Image Credit: Colossal)
oh ya Cosimo II de’ Medici i know him
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