After a woodcut by Michael Wolgemut, Nuremberg, 1491.
Banquets have long been symbolic displays of social propriety and etiquette ruled by tradition. Here, the Prince, dines alone at his private board; served by thehighly trained carver, he observes the procession and fanfare announcing the nextcourse, or remove. Knives, in the possession of the carver and the Prince, wereused only by the highest ranking males; everyone else was expected to use fingersand spoons only. Any leftover food was traditionally given away to the needy.

Image restored by redrawing and printed by hand in an open edition from a zinc etched plate.