Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540 – Ajuntament de Valencia – V-18 – Biblioteca del Real Colegio-Seminario de Corpus Christi (Valencia, Spain)

Paris (France) β€” 1540

The Golden Age of French typography meets one of the most influential Spanish clerics of the 16th and early-17th centuries: Juan de Ribera's personal copy of a Latin translation of the Hebrew Bible is richly adorned with masterful engravings

  1. Juan de Ribera (1532–1611) was one of the most influential clerics of his time in Spain by virtue of his various offices

  2. Translated into Latin, this Tanakh was published in 1540 by the leading Parisian printer Robert Estienne (1503–1559)

  3. The handwritten marginal notes testify that this was Ribera's personal study copy

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540

Facsimile Copy Available!
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(1,000€ - 3,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540

As Archbishop and Viceroy of Valencia, Latin Patriarch of Antioch and Chancellor of the University of Valencia, Juan de Ribera (1532–1611) was one of the most influential figures in 16th and early 17th century Spain and had a direct connection to King Philip III (1578–1621) of Spain. In 1583, he founded a seminary in Valencia - the Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi, where he is not only buried, but to which he also bequeathed the majority of his private library, which is still housed in the historic premises. Among them is the so-called Bible of St. John of Ribera – 1540, a Latin translation of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. The writings, which are significant for both Judaism and Christianity, are provided with numerous handwritten marginal notes by Ribera, which identify the book as his personal study copy. It was published in 1540 by the Paris printing house of Robert Estienne (1503–1559), who had just been appointed royal printer and was therefore one of the leading masters of this profession.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Bibel des Heiligen Johannes von Ribera - 1540
Origin
France
Date
1540
Language
Illustrations
Numerous large engravings, several of which are full-page
Content
Bible printed in Paris in 1540 with the handwritten annotations of St. Juan de Ribera
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Juan de Ribera (1532–1611)

Available facsimile editions:
Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540 – Ajuntament de Valencia – V-18 – Biblioteca del Real Colegio-Seminario de Corpus Christi (Valencia, Spain)
Ajuntament de Valencia – Valencia, 2010
Limited Edition: 300 copies
Detail Picture

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540

Ark of the Covenant

Since late antiquity, art history has produced countless depictions and thus also ideas of the legendary, holy Ark of the Covenant, which was built by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt on God's instructions and was intended, among other things, to hold the two stone plates with the Ten Commandments. The Book of Exodus describes it as a 130 Γ— 80 Γ— 80 cm, completely gilded acacia wood chest with golden rings as holders for carrying bars. Probably the most important part was the removable lid, which was flanked by cherubim and was seen as a symbol of reconciliation between God and man. Juan Ribera had his Latin translation of the Tanakh illustrated with a representation of the Ark that was as accurate as possible, showing all the parts described in the Bible and taking into account the dimensions given.

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540 – Ajuntament de Valencia – V-18 – Biblioteca del Real Colegio-Seminario de Corpus Christi (Valencia, Spain)
Single Page

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540

The Camp of the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai

This impressive copperplate engraving visualizes what is recounted in the Book of Numbers (or 4th Book of Moses). After their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites wander through the Sinai desert and set up a huge camp, full of hustle and bustle. At its heart is the sanctuary (tabernacle), surrounded by a vestibule (atrium) containing various altars and liturgical objects such as a seven-branched candlestick and a washbasin.

This is where the tribes of Israel listed in the Bible text settle, each represented by a tent. All the details in the text, such as compass directions and measurements, are meticulously followed and described in the caption, creating an accurate map of the biblical camp (castra) and making it easier for devout readers to follow along.

Bible of St. John of Ribera - 1540 – Ajuntament de Valencia – V-18 – Biblioteca del Real Colegio-Seminario de Corpus Christi (Valencia, Spain)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Las Biblias de san Juan de Ribera

Ajuntament de Valencia – Valencia, 2010

Publisher: Ajuntament de Valencia – Valencia, 2010
Limited Edition: 300 copies
Binding: Brown leather binding with decorative blind and gold tooling
Commentary: 1 volume (34 pp.) von Miguel Navarro SornΓ­
Language: Spanish
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
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