{"product_id":"title-border-the-table-of-cebes-hans-holbein-the-younger","title":"Title-border: The Table of Cebes - Hans Holbein the Younger","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed woodcut title-border by Hans Holbein the Younger, depicting the allegorical journey of human life based on the Table of Cebes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodcut serves as a title-border, a common feature in early sixteenth-century printing, designed to frame the index of the works of Saint John Chrysostom. Hans Holbein the Younger, active in Basel during this period, produced numerous such designs for local printers, including Andreas Cratander, whose name appears in the central text block. The imagery draws upon the Table of Cebes, an ancient Greek philosophical text that uses an allegorical painting to describe the path of human life, from birth through the various temptations and virtues encountered on the journey toward true education and happiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is organised as a narrative sequence, winding around the central typographic space. Figures are depicted in various stages of moral development, interacting with architectural elements and symbolic characters. The style reflects the precision of Holbein's early graphic work, characterised by clear, descriptive lines and a structured approach to spatial organisation. The figures are rendered with a focus on gesture and costume, providing a visual commentary that complements the scholarly nature of the publication. The border functions as both a decorative element and a didactic tool, inviting the reader to engage with the philosophical themes before turning to the text itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a piece of Renaissance book art, this print demonstrates the collaboration between humanist scholarship and the burgeoning printing industry in Basel. The woodcut technique allows for the reproduction of fine detail, capturing the nuances of the allegorical scenes. This print is a representative example of how classical themes were integrated into contemporary religious and academic texts, reflecting the intellectual climate of the Reformation era. The work remains a study in the application of classical allegory to the medium of the printed page, showcasing the technical skill required to balance complex narrative scenes within a confined, functional space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/border-composed-of-four-blocks-initials-a-i-urs-graf\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eBorder Composed of Four Blocks; Initials A, I - Urs Graf — Urs Graf\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nadab-and-abihu-consumed-by-fire-veit-rudolf-specklin\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNadab and Abihu Consumed by Fire - Veit Rudolf Specklin — Veit Rudolf Specklin\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hans Holbein the Younger","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58604617105743,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58604662325583,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58604662358351,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58604662391119,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58604662423887,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58604662456655,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58604662489423,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58604662522191,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58604662554959,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58604662587727,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58604662620495,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58604662653263,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Title-border_-The-Table-of-Cebes_Poster_CompositorV1_1788063384561.jpg?v=1788107839","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/title-border-the-table-of-cebes-hans-holbein-the-younger","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}