Histories of Alexander the Great is a popular tale of chivalry, with its origins not in the authentic historical sources but rather in the work dating back to the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, the creator of which called himself Aristotle’s nephew Callisthenes. 

In the 15th century, the early Christian Church historian Eusebius of Caesarea was thought to be the author of the work. A Munich physician and humanist Johannes Hartlieb translated the book into German for Duke Albert III of Bavaria and his wife Anna of Braunschweig. In 1473, the first edition was released in Augsburg by Johann Bämler’s printing house; it included 28 woodcuts.

At the exhibition, there is one of the three illustrated editions, printed later by Anton Sorg. Augsburg and Florence were the only cities where more books were printed in their native language rather than in Latin.

The illustrations are placed next to the corresponding texts and highlight the peaks of the story. Unlike Boccaccio’s woodcuts, here various events that took place at different times are not compressed in one picture; only one moment is represented at a time. The images are distinguished by their conventionality, typical for the 15th century; for example, Alexander’s knightly armour or medieval dresses worn by antique ladies.