Catechismus piae[sic] et utili explicatione illustratus

Next to the woodcut on this title page is an abstract outline of a man. The face in profile is clearly drawn, but the person has only one leg. The detail in the face profile is particularly interesting considering the size of the sketch. The face looks like it was drawn without the pen lifting off the page. Though more abstract, this drawing may be mimicking the woodcut -- 2 cm to the left there is an etching of a man in a similar position. Similar to drawing prompts and tracing today, the woodcuts in early modern books provided inspiration for the artistically inclined.  

BX8070 B73 1558 Title Page drawing.jpg

The bottom inch of the title page in this text has been removed, as were the endleaves. It is quite possible that this drawing survives because of its placement near the printer's woodcut. 

 

Catechismus piae[sic] et utili explicatione illustratus