Gothic Picture Bible

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his colourful illustrated Bible from the early period of small formats is entirely without text. It reflects the various stages in the development of French book painting in the 13th century and reminds us of the stained-glass windows of Gothic cathedrals. The manuscript was made in the mid 13th century in Paris and is today kept in the Austrian National Library in Vienna. Each of its 14 illustrated pages is surrounded with a different frame and shows six medallions, thus a total of 84 scenes taken from the Old and the New Testaments, all executed in the elegant style of the High Gothic period and in a delicate painting technique. The scenes take up very little space with only a few attributes but expressive gestures and show the Biblical events, starting with the Creation as described in the Book of Genesis. The detailed scenes are thoroughly fascinating with their graceful figures and particularly sensitive expression. Another distinctive feature of these miniatures is their polychromatic finish filling the scenes with vibrant life.

The illustrated cycle was originally intended as an introductory sequence to a prayer book, but was later added to a manuscript of different provenance.

Facsimile edition of the painted manuscript Cod. S.n. 2611, f. 122, Osterrelchische Nationalbibliothek. 44 pages in the original format of 17.5 x 13.2 cm. 14 colour plates totalling 84 individual scenes from the Old and the New Testaments. The gold leaf of the original is reproduced with 23.5 ct genuine gold. Binding: red leather with blind tooling to replicate the original Gothic binding. 80page commentary volume in German authored by Michaela Krieger. Both volumes come in one case covered with black silk moiré, decorated with a silk guilded medallion. Limited edition: 850 numbered copies worldwide.

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