Hans Tucher with wives, 1590–1606

The miniature in the genealogical magnificent manuscript of the Tucher family, the Große Tucherbuch, ranks Hans VI Tucher (1428-1491) in the family history. In contrast to the pious half-length portrait in the Museum Tucherschloss in Nuremberg, which probably served as a model here, a representative portrait of the Jerusalem crusader is offered. He is portrayed as a traveller in full figure with beret, knee-length skirt and sword. He is holding his gloves in his left hand.

To the right of Hans, each with his family coat of arms, are his wives: Barbara, née Ebner (marriage 1455), in festive hood with bent posture, and Ursula, née Harsdörffer (marriage before 1477), in headgear with veil. The marriage with Barbara produced nine children whose names can be read on the branch rising from the figure of Barbara. Just two girls and boys reached adulthood. Ursula, whose marriage to Tucher remained childless, appears with a humble gaze and crossed hands.

Above Tucher's figure are the insignia of the orders of knighthood, some of which he acquired on his journey to the Holy Land: above the Jerusalem Cross of the Knights of the Sepulchre, the Sword Order of Cyprus, the Catherine wheel, below the scallop shell as pilgrim's symbol and the bell of the Order of Anthony.

The preparatory drawings for the Tucherbuch were done by the graphic artist and painter Jost Amman (1539-1591) from Zurich. However, he was only able to complete a few of the colourful miniatures himself before his death in 1591. This task was taken over by the Nuremberg artist Georg Hertz.

Randall Herz

To the digitised copy