Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593–1650) was a Swiss engraver and printer who was active in Frankfurt
He apprenticed in Zürich, studied throughout France, and founded a dynasty of publishers and engravers in Frankfurt
The New Testament, printed in an elegant Fraktur script, is adorned with 77 colored copperplates

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Ausst. 303 Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany)

Description

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Arguably the finest copperplate engravings ever created adorn the text of this stunning 17th century edition of the New Testament, printed in German with an elegant Fraktur script. They are the work of the famous Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593–1650), who may have even surpassed the great Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) in the art of engraving. Originally from Switzerland, Merian learned his craft in Zurich and France and later established an entire dynasty of printers and engravers in Frankfurt. His 77 vibrant color engravings bring the numerous biblical stories home to the beholder, both then and now, and are remarkable for their extraordinary artistry, creativity, and precision. They are truly small masterpieces of Baroque art and, together with a spectacular title page richly decorated with gold, make this "Copper Bible" a particularly coveted specimen of Early Modern printing.

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Mathew or Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593–1650) was a Swiss engraver, the most famous in history, and printer from a patrician background who was active in Frankfurt. He apprenticed in Zürich where he learned the art of copperplate engraving, and studied thereafter in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris. He came to Frankfurt in 1616 and married Maria Magdalena de Bry, the daughter of a publisher, a year later. Their seven children included Matthäus Merian the Younger (1621–87), who also became an engraver like his father, as well as a portrait painter. After the death of Maria, he was remarried to Johanna Catharina Hein in 1646, having two children including Anna Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), who was a pioneer of naturalism and the creation of scientifically accurate illustrations. Merian’s Bible was published in 1630 by the heirs of Lazarus Zetzner (1551–1616), who established a prominent printing house in Strasbourg.

Colored Copperplates of the New Testament

The text of the New Testament, printed in an elegant Fraktur script, is adorned with 77 colored copperplates, considered by art historians to be some of the finest ever created. The gilt-edged pages of the codex are contained in a hard leather binding with gold embossing, metal clasps, and corner fittings. Merian stands out as one of the greatest representatives of the new graphic arts made possible by the printing press. His engravings stand out for their combination of detail, subtlety, and liveliness, making this one of the most fascinating specimens of a printed Bible from the 17th century.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Matthäus Merian: Kupferbibel Biblia 1630 - Neues Testament
Merian-Bibel 1630
Die Matthäus Merian Kupferbibel 1630
Type: Print on paper
Size / Format: 336 pages / 43.0 × 30.0 cm
Origin: France
Date: 1630
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Baroque
Genre: Bibles / Gospels
Language: German
Illustrations: 77 coloured copper engravings, title page with gold
Content: New Testament
Artist / School: Matthew Merian (1593–1650)
Lazarus Zetzner (publisher)

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Adoration by the Shepherds

This wonderful miniature is dominated by two shining lights. In the background, the archangel Gabriel appears to the shepherds and tells them of the birth of Christ. Gabriel seems to have been sent down to earth by God in a ray of dazzling light. In the foreground, the same shepherds are worshipping the infant Jesus lying in his manger, whose divine nature seems to radiate from him. The source of light in the stable scene is the newborn himself.

Single Page

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament

Title Page

This spectacular colored engraving encompasses various biblical themes. Jesus is in the foreground giving communion to the faithful, seen on the left, while being rebuffed by the Pharisees, who walk off to the right. The inscriptions, beginning with the altar, read: “The New Testament translated into German by Martin Luther. With copperplates” and “Strasbourg. Published 1630 by the blessed heirs of Lazarus Zetzner”.

A dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit is brilliantly highlighted by gold leaf and appears in between the image of Christ and the Hebrew word “Yahweh”. A magnificent landscape unfolds with the Israelites in the desert on the left, having just escaped Egypt, while Jonas is being swallowed by a great fish in the sea to the right.