PETER VISCHER 
Peter Vischer the younger as the piece of work by 
which, for the second time, he claimed the rank 
of master among them. We do not know on 
what pettifogging grounds, whether of inaccuracy 
of detail or of personal spite, admission was re- 
fused him. (Ill. 23.) 
But it is clear that a considerable scandal was 
created by their refusal. For it is further on 
record that the Council, moved perhaps by the 
influence of his father and his friends, took the 
step of interfering on behalf of the artist's repu- 
tation. An appeal had been made from the de- 
cision of the Guild, and the “Members of the 
Council,” we learn from Baader, “to whom it was 
shown gave it their approval, and on May 22 
(15277) they commanded the Masters of the 
Guild of Coppersmiths to accept this monument as 
a masterpiece, and to recognize the author of it as 
a Master.” This, they explained out of deference 
to the feelings of the Masters, was to be an ex- 
ceptional case, and was not to be held to the 
prejudice of the Guild and its rules. The sworn 
Masters, however, protested against such a pro- 
ceeding, and they did not obey the order of the 
Council. The matter rested there for some time, 
but a few years after the death of the artist, in 
the interests, perhaps, of his posthumous renown, 
the Council repeated their command (May 22, 
1532), and added a rider to the effect that Peter 
Vischer was qualified as a Master by the monu- 
ment he had made even if he had not always 
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