Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - Old Testament
Arguably the finest copperplates ever created adorn the text of this 17th century codex of the Old Testament, printed in German with an elegant Fraktur script. It is the work of the famous Matthäus Merian the Elder, who arguably even surpassed the great Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in the art of engraving. These colored engravings are remarkable for their artistry, creativity, and precision, making this “copper Bible” a particularly coveted specimen of Early Modern printing.
Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - Old 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 Old Testament
The text of the Old Testament, printed in an elegant Fraktur script, are adorned with 157 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 - Altes Testament
- Size / Format
- 336 pages / 43.0 × 30.0 cm
- Origin
- France
- Date
- 1630
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 157 coloured copper engravings, title page with gold
- Content
- New Testament with copperplates by Matthew Merian
- Artist / School
- Matthew Merian (1593–1650)
Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - Old Testament
Title Page
This spectacular engraving is filled with imagery from both the Old and New Testament. In the center, we see an altar with a burnt offering, the smoke of which reaches up to the Holy Trinity above, foreshadowing the coming of Christ. The lower title with the publisher’s information is framed by the symbols of the Four Evangelists.
The background shows the offerings of Cain and Abel on the left and the world’s first murder on the right, above which Moses is depicted receiving the Ten Commandments. Surrounded by four Sibyls in the corners, four of the most important figures of the Old Testament are depicted: Aaron swings a censer full of incense, Levite holds the sacrificial knife, David presents a plan for the First Temple, and Joshua is dressed for war.

#1 Matthäus Merian: Kupferbibel Biblia 1630 - Altes Testament (Gilt Edges Edition)
Languages: German
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