Holkham Bible

Holkham Bible

This gorgeous and stylistically unique bible is stored in the British Library in London. The so-called Holkham Bible, named after one of its 19th century owners, is a work of 14th century English illumination. This unique Bible, whose focus is on the miniatures that are accompanied by the text, originated as the commission of an unknown Dominican, who is beautifully depicted in the first miniature. Expressive painting and an admirable sense of color distinguish the style of the London illuminator who was responsible for this masterpiece. In this way an unusual, impressive example of the English book art of the Middle Ages came into being – the Holkham Bible!

An English Picture Bible

The Holkham Bible is a unique picture bible, which nonetheless does not skimp on text. The imagery and text are closely linked, so one often finds banderoles in the miniatures. The text – in contrast to what is typical in medieval manuscripts – was first inserted after the paintings. This unusual manuscript probably originated ca. 1327–1335 in London. The patron was an unknown Dominican monk, who is drawn at the beginning of the manuscript in a gorgeous miniature: he arranges for the commission with the miniaturist and receives the assurance from his counterpart that he will give him his best!

Expressive and Stylish Miniatures

231 miniatures on a total of 84 pages keep this promise. Gorgeous miniatures illustrate the Old and New Testament, whereby two half-page miniatures usually decorate a page one above the other. Nevertheless, there are also numerous full-page miniatures. Expressive figures in dramatic compositions distinguish the exceptional visual adornment. The miniaturist created a whirl of figures, landscapes, and forms. This mix makes the Holkham Bible stylistically unique and bespeaks the impressive skill with which it was made!

Humor and Zeitgeist

The biblical scenes of the miniatures are imbedded in medieval London, with its technical innovations, hustle and bustle, and its impressive architecture. The observant beholder cannot fail to notice the fine – British? – humor that the artist displayed as he illustrated the common biblical stories according to his own ideas. Thus, the Christ child plays gleefully with the sun’s rays, and Herod peeks under Salome’s dress while she is dancing wildly. The background of the miniatures is typically covered as though with wallpaper, an atypical characteristic for the time of its creation. This special manuscript earned its name from one of its owners: Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, whose residence was called Holkham Hall. The Holkham Bible finally left the library of Holkham Hall in 1952 and came into the possession of the British Library in London.