Decorated Roman alphabet 18th century

Jeremias Wachsmuth created this page of decorated letters as an etching sometime in the 18th century. At this time, illustrated alphabets were popular, particularly among printmakers working in Augsburg, Germany. Printmaking was a burgeoning industry at this time and Augsburg one of its main centers. Here, printmakers and publishers like Jeremias Wachsmuth and Martin Engelbrecht, whose name you can see at the bottom right, collaborated in the making and selling of prints. This particular print is from a series of twenty-six depicting the alphabet. Each letter is embellished with human figures, flora, and fauna. Many of the figures are putti, or cherubic boys, who are seen climbing the letters, sliding down them, and even holding them up. Illustrated alphabets such as these are interesting to historians as they reveal the relationship between art, commerce, and education. Researching archives of printmakers and publishers can show us more about the making and selling of prints in 18th century Augsburg.