Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)

Valencia (Spain) — March 23rd, 1510

He helped to overcome the Great Schism: the first biography of the influential preacher Saint Vincent Ferrer in one of the first printed books from Spain

  1. The first biography of the influential preacher Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419), who helped to end the Great Western Schism

  2. It was composed in Valencian by the author Miquel Pereç and published in 1510 by Joan Joffre

  3. Alongside fantastic printed graphics, the document is additionally ennobled through engraved initials

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

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  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

The Life of St. Vincent Ferrer is a printed codex that was made in the year 1510 in the workshop of the famous printer Joan Joffre. It is the first biography worldwide of the influential preacher Ferrer, who made a decisive contribution to ending the Great Western Schism that divided the Catholic Church. Alongside the fantastic printed graphics, which show the portrait of the saint, the precious document is additionally ennobled through engraved initials.

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

The monk Vincent Ferrer lived in a Dominican monastery in Valencia and was one of the most famous preachers in medieval Spain. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. The text at hand, La vida de sant Vicent Ferrer, tells of the life and great deeds of the cleric. It is the first biography of Ferrer worldwide. The work was composed by a prominent Spanish author and is illustrated with an impressive portrait of the saint.

Top-Class Literature

The biography of Saint Vincent Ferrer was composed by the author Miquel Pereç in the local Valencian language of the Middle Ages. Pereç primarily attained great fame through his work Obres o trobes en laors de la Verge Maria. His texts are counted among the first printed books in Spain and today are considered to be the cornerstone of the written Valencian language. The saint’s biography was printed by the famous publisher and graphic artist Joan Joffre. He was the owner of the most important printing house in Spain during the early 16th century.

Who was St. Vincent Ferrer?

Vincent Ferrer entered the Dominican order in Valencia in the year 1367 at the age of 17 because, according to legend, he was called by a divine vision. Due to his charismatic vibrancy, he was soon chosen to be a wandering preacher of repentance. His obtained his exceptional ecclesiopolitical significance through his decisive contribution to ending the Great Western Schism in 1378. Furthermore, he authored various theological treatises. His personal charisma, simple lifestyle, but above all the proclamation of an imminent apocalypse like the anticipated battle against the Antichrist bestowed enormous popularity upon him. That being said, he was also known for the dissemination of anti-Jewish visions of the end of days. In his biography, the focus lies on the numerous great deeds performed by the Saint for the Catholic Church in Spain.

An Exciting Saint’s Legend

The Life of St. Vincent Ferrer is not a historically verifiable or reliable biography. It represents more of a eulogy to the good actions of the important Catholic preacher. It is a collection of memories from the Saint’s turbulent life, which have been collected and enshrined in the Spanish tradition. His devotion, prophecies, and miracles were all portrayed. As a result, the preciously-designed book does not represent a reliable source for historians, but is nonetheless an absolute jewel of Spanish literature during the Middle Ages and offers enjoyable reading for both young and old with its exciting depictions.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
La vida de sant Vicent Ferrer
Leben des Heiligen Vincent Ferrer
Size / Format
64 pages / 22.5 × 15.5 cm
Origin
Spain
Date
March 23rd, 1510
Script
Gothic script
Illustrations
Woodcut of Saint Vincent Ferrer and engraved initials
Content
Hagiography of Saint Vincent Ferrer
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)
Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1997
Limited Edition: 3460 copies
Detail Picture

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

Prologue Incipit Page

Aside from containing the biography of the influential Dominican preacher and logician Saint Vincent Ferrer, it is also a fine example of early Spanish printing from the workshop of Joan Joffre. This incipit page is perfect with neat margins, even spacing, a clear typeface, and is centered on the page in a manner that pleases the eye. It is adorned by a woodcut of a highly stylized “M” initial complete with an elaborate background consisting of curled tendrils.

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)
Single Page

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

Dedication Portrait

This splendid woodcut portrait of St. Vincent Ferrer serves as the frontispiece of the codex. Although a printed book, it continues the tradition of the dedication miniature originating in Late Antiquity. They are usually a portrait of the manuscript’s patron, often in a scene showing it being presented to them, or of the deceased person to whom it is dedicated, such as a saint or the founder of a monastery.

Aside from being a major figure in ending the Western Schism, St. Vincent is known as the Preacher of the Apocalypse. He is pictured here with a banderole reading TIMETE DEUM ET DATE ILLI HONOREM QUIA VENIT HORA IUDICII, a quote often associated with him from Rev. 14:7 “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment...”

Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)
Facsimile Editions

#1 La vida de sant Vicent Ferrer

Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1997
Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)
Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Vicent Garcia Editores – CF/4-21 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1997
Limited Edition: 3460 copies
Binding: Parchment on wooden board. Presentation dust jacket cloth lined with gold engraved leather spine containing facsimile.
Commentary: 1 volume (202 pages) by Antoni Ferrando Francés
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Numbered by notary and signed by the printer-publisher. Specially made laid paper. All folios are cut according to the original.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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