(b 1514; d Nuremberg, 1562). The text of a portrait engraving of him done in 1562 by Balthasar Jenichen provides Solis’s birth year. Little is known about his origins or training. From 1540 he and his workshop created over 2000 prints and drawings. Most are signed with his monogram and many are dated. O’Dell-Franke noted that during his later career the monogram simply certified that the work was made in his shop though not necessarily by the master himself. This helps to explain the sharp fluctuations in quality from print to print. Although Solis often signed himself as a painter, nothing certain is known about this aspect of his career.

Part of the Solis family

• Solis, Virgil
  • Arms and armour, §II, 1(ii): European edged weapons, 1450–1630
  • Feyerabend, Sigmund
  • Nuremberg, §III, 1: Centre of print production
  • Siegburg
  • Solis
  • collaboration
    • Amman, Jost
  • pupils
    • Solis: (2) Nikolaus Solis
  • works
    • Germany, §III, 2(ii)(b): Renaissance painting and graphic arts: Work and influence of Dürer
    • Germany, §IX, 1(ii)(b): Gold and silver, 1520–c 1700: Techniques and ornament
    • Germany, §X, 1: Jewellery
    • Heraldry, §II, 4(vii)(b): Western heraldry in art: Printed books and bookplates
    • Jamnitzer: (1) Wenzel Jamnitzer I
    • Ovid
    • Pattern book, §I, 2(i): Western: Decorative arts, after c 1440
    • Prints, §II, 1(ix): Subject-matter, before c 1700: Ornamental
    • Strapwork
    • Woodcut, §II, 3(i): 16th century: Holy Roman Empire