Bible of Compassion

The most beautiful manuscripts from over 40 significant libraries worldwide were sampled for this Bible
It is a compendium of 350 splendid miniatures, 270 of which are adorned with precious gold leaf
Ten centuries of illumination are presented within a unique binding with a removable, ruby-adorned cross on the cover

Bible of Compassion

Description

Bible of Compassion

The Bible of Compassion is not a facsimile in the strict sense. Rather, the texts of the Old and New Testaments have been brought together with more than 350 exquisite miniatures from medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in a luxurious German-language household Bible - 270 of which are decorated with gold foil. The small works of art were compiled from various codices kept in 40 of the most important manuscript collections in the world. They include book treasures from almost all epochs of Christian medieval illumination, such as the splendid Ottonian Strahov Evangeliary, the famous Romanesque St Albans Psalter and the ornate Gothic Hamilton Bible, as well as the monumental Salzburg Missal and the opulent Renaissance Bible by Federico da Montefeltro. The high-quality leather binding is also adorned with a ruby-studded detachable cross and fitted with two book clasps.

Bible of Compassion

Pope Francis I (b. 1936) announced that 2016 would be the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, a period of remission for sins and universal pardon focusing specifically on God’s forgiveness and mercy. To celebrate this special event, the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana helped to organize the creation of the most beautiful Bible of the 21st century, the Picture Bible of Mercy, a part of the sales of which is donated for the benefit of a children’s hospital in Africa. The 24 x 34 cm Bible comprises 1,024 pages and contains the German translation of the Old and New Testaments in the entirety. It is illustrated with 350 splendid miniatures, 270 of which are adorned with precious gold leaf, taken from the most beautiful manuscripts from over 40 significant libraries worldwide. These miniatures represent a sampling of ten centuries of illumination. It is housed in a hard leather binding with gilded embossing, corner fittings, and claps with a special removable cross with a ruby on the cover. The preface for the text was personally written by Pope Francis, adding further to the desirability of this singular Bible.
The miniatures featured in this extraordinary edition represent manuscripts including:
• St Albans Psalter, Hildesheim Cathedral Library
• Wenceslas Bible and Gothic Picture Bible, Austrian National Library
• Strahov Evangeliary, Strahov Monastery in Prague
• Mirror of Salvation, Czech National Museum
• Stammheim Missal, Getty Museum in Los Angeles
• De Lisle Psalter and Bedford Hours, British Library
• Hamilton Bible, Berlin Museum of Prints and Drawings
• Psalter of Saint Louis, Bibliothèque nationale de France
• Salzburg Missal, Bavarian State Library
• Bible of Federico da Montefeltro inter alia, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Bibel der Barmherzigkeit
Type: Printed book on paper
Size / Format: 1024 pages / 34.0 × 24.0 cm
Epochs: Early Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Other Styles / Unknown
Genre: Bibles / Gospels
Language: German
Illustrations: 356 miniatures (270 of which are decorated with gold foil) from various manuscripts from a period of 8 centuries; 571 ornamental illuminations; punched gilt edges
Content: Old and New Testaments

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

Bible of Compassion

Incipit Page

The word incipit comes from Latin meaning “it begins” and before modern title pages were developed, decorative incipit pages were used to mark the beginning of texts with large and highly stylized letters. This is a worthy example of an incipit page from one of the most richly illuminated Carolingian manuscripts, the Biblia de San Pablo. A dark purple background contrasts with glimmering rich gold and silver, furthermore the “IN” initial is further embossed with interlace patterns.

Single Page

Bibel der Barmherzigkeit

The Creation of the World

This is the first miniature from the Stammheim Missal, a German Romanesque masterpiece created in the 1170’s with rich colors and abundant gold and silver leaf. The Creator, flanked by seraphim, holds a disc with roundels representing the six days of creation. Inscriptions from Genesis describe the events of each day: read clockwise, the cycle moves around the disc to God's creation of the animals.

The artist links this roundel to the center of the disc via an open channel, where the creation of Eve is shown. In the lower left corner, an angel drives Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, while Cain kills Abel on the right. Between these scenes of woe, King David holds a scroll with a verse from Psalm 134: “All that pleased the Lord, he did.”

Facsimile Editions

#1 Bibel der Barmherzigkeit

Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2016

Publisher: Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 2016

Limited Edition: 2016 copies

Binding: Red leather with gold-plated clasps, fittings and an also gold-plated, removable cross with a small ruby on the book cover; Acrylic box

Commentary: With a preface by Pope Francis

Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.

Facsimile Copy Available!

Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)

Inquire current price here or ask a different question

You might also be interested in:

De Lisle Psalter

Westminster (United Kingdom) – Ca. 1310–1320

The archetype of the English Gothic, preserved on 38 splendid pages: Robert de Lisle's gold-glowing psalter composed of delicate ogival architectures, flowing robes, and colorfully patterned backgrounds

Experience More

St. Alban’s Psalter

St. Alban Abbey, London (United Kingdom) – 1123–1135

A sublime testimony to the heyday of the English Romanesque: a first-rate work of art, splendidly and masterfully illuminated with 42 full-page gold miniatures and over 200 artful decorated initials

Experience More

Wenceslas Bible

Prague (Czech Republic) – 1389–1400

Made in the famous Wenceslas workshop in Prague: a mammoth bible in German with 646 fantastic miniatures for the German emperor

Experience More

Stammheim Missal

Hildesheim (Germany) – Ca. 1170

Created in Hildesheim and still in perfect condition today: one of the most beautifully illuminated examples of Romanesque illumination in Germany

Experience More

Libro de la Caza del Principe Don Juan Manuel

Spain – 19th Century

Originally written by the Infante Don Juan Manuel, magnificently illuminated by Angel Roncero: the first work on falconry in Castilian with more than 200 masterful miniatures

Experience More

The Parisian Household Book

Paris (France) – 1846

How to run a late medieval Parisian household: a splendid handbook to prepare young brides for married life, filled with moralizing texts, practical advice and numerous charming woodcuts

Experience More

Blog articles worth reading