Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
As one of the most powerful prince-electors of the Reformation, Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg (1490–1545) commissioned a 200-page prayer book that originated in Nuremberg and Halle between 1536 and 1537 and thematized the salvation history from the Annunciation to the Entombment of Christ. The wonderful manuscript enchants the beholder with 42 full-page miniatures by the illuminator Gabriel Glockendon and 73 ornamental initials by the scribe Georg Stierlein. With its tendency toward playful details in garments and architecture as well as atmospheric landscapes with lonely rivers and bold rock formations, its Mannerist style is decidedly modern.
Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
A pompous prayer book for Albrecht von Brandenburg (1490–1545), one of the most powerful prince-electors of the Reformation, was made between 1536 and 1537 in Nuremberg and Halle. The 200-page parchment manuscript originated from a collaboration between the illuminator Gabriel Glockendon (ca. 1515-after 1585) and the scribe Georg Stierlein and captivates with 42 full-page miniatures, wonderful marginal décor, and 73 ornamental initials. A total of five depictions accompanying the Passion invite the beholder to meditate on the suffering of Christ, which is presented in expressive scenes.
Artists of Distinction
Only a few documents today give us any information about the life of Gabriel Glockendon, the son of the famous Nuremberg illuminator Nikolaus Glockendon (ca. 1490/5–1533/4). It is believed that he took over the workshop after his father’s passing. As a passionate collector and patron of the arts, Albrecht von Brandenburg employed Georg Stierlein in Halle and thus had his own scribe.
Unique Décor Meets Refined Layout
The salvation history from the Annunciation to the Entombment of Christ are found in miniatures brimming with ideas. Glockendon’s tendency towards the Mannerist style, which finds expression in numerous details, is clearly recognizable. Thus, not only are the figures’ articles of clothing furnished with elaborate lace and frills, but the architecture is also astonishingly devised. Atmospheric landscapes with leafless trees, fantastic fortresses, and imposing mountains serve as a setting. As though these primary scenes were not diverse enough, the painter supplements them through additional, no less extensive typological scenes in the background. This creative layout with an additional depiction on the border makes the prayer book a unique masterpiece of illumination.
Inspiration from the Past
Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg must have really admired this text, because he commissioned it more than once. Actually, there are two older manuscripts, whose text- and miniature-program are identical with that by Glockendon and Schierlein. They are a manuscript by Simon Bening (ca. 1483–1561) that originated ca. 1525/50 and another by Nikolaus Glockendon from 1533/34. Serving as the foundation for these three works is a German prayer book that was printed in Augsburg in 1521, which contained a translation of the Orationes et meditationes de vita Christi by Thomas von Kempen (ca. 1380–1471).
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Gabriel Glockendon: Gebetbuch für Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
- Size / Format
- 200 pages / 19.0 × 24.5 cm
- Origin
- Germany
- Date
- 1536–1537
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 42 full-page miniatures and 73 ornamented initials
- Patron
- Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
- Artist / School
- Gabriel Glockendon (illuminator)
Georg Stierlein (scribe)
Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
The Nativity
Usually a Nativity scene shows three Magi or a group of shepherds that have been assembled after the angel of the Lord appeared them, proclaiming the birth of the Savior. This unusual miniature shows the Baby Jesus in the golden mandorla surrounded by the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and four angels dressed like members of a choir. A mule and an ox have the privilege of being witnesses to the event. This masterful 16th century miniature represents the end of an era.

Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
Joseph of Arimathea Before Pilate
After the Crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea appealed to Pontius Pilate for the corpse of Jesus Christ, which was granted. This appeal is presented here in a wonderfully atmospheric scene set before a late medieval cityscape, including a tower under construction. Garments, postures, and facial features are depicted with incredible detail and a splendid color palette in this miniature.
Joseph of Arimathea is kneeling in a gesture of supplication with hat in hand. Pontius Pilate stands imperiously with a hand on his hip wearing magnificent brocade and holding a scepter. In contrast to Joseph’s sympathetic expression and humble posture, Pilate’s entourage looks upon him with sneering and condescending expressions with their arms smugly crossed.

#1 Gabriel Glockendon: Gebetbuch für Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg (Deluxe edition)
Language: German
#2 Gabriel Glockendon: Gebetbuch für Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg (Standard Edition)
Language: German
#3 Gabriel Glockendon: Gebetbuch für Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
Language: German
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Aboca Museum
- Ajuntament de Valencia
- Akademie Verlag
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Alkuin Verlag
- Almqvist & Wiksell
- Amilcare Pizzi
- Andreas & Andreas Verlagsbuchhandlung
- Archiv Verlag
- Archivi Edizioni
- Arnold Verlag
- ARS
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Azimuth Editions
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Benziger Verlag
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- Boydell & Brewer
- Bramante Edizioni
- Brepols Publishers
- British Library
- C. Weckesser
- Caixa Catalunya
- Canesi
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Caratzas Brothers, Publishers
- Carus Verlag
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collegium Graphicum
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- CTHS
- D. S. Brewer
- De Agostini/UTET
- De Schutter
- Deuschle & Stemmle
- Deutscher Verlag für Kunstwissenschaft
- DIAMM
- Droz
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Ediclube
- Edições Inapa
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Georg Popp
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Éditions de l'Oiseau Lyre
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Casariego
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Editrice Antenore
- Editrice Velar
- Edizioni Edison
- Egeria, S.L.
- Eikon Editores
- Electa
- Enciclopèdia Catalana
- Eos-Verlag
- Ephesus Publishing
- Eugrammia Press
- Extraordinary Editions
- Fackelverlag
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Feuermann Verlag
- Folger Shakespeare Library
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Friedrich Wittig Verlag
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- G. Braziller
- Gabriele Mazzotta Editore
- Gebr. Mann Verlag
- Getty Research Institute
- Giovanni Domenico de Rossi
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Guido Pressler
- Guillermo Blazquez
- H. N. Abrams
- Harrassowitz
- Helikon
- Hendrickson Publishers
- Henning Oppermann
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hoepli
- Houghton Library
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- ILte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses
- Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Ellenico di Studi Bizantini e Postbizantini
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Italarte Art Establishments
- J. Thorbecke
- Jan Thorbecke Verlag
- Johnson Reprint Corporation
- Jugoslavija
- Karl W. Hiersemann
- Kasper Straube
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- Konrad Kölbl Verlag
- Kurt Wolff Verlag
- La Liberia dello Stato
- La Linea Editrice
- La Meta Editore
- Lambert Schneider
- Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg
- Leo S. Olschki
- Les Incunables
- Library of Congress
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lichtdruck
- Lito Immagine Editore
- Lumen Artis
- Lund Humphries
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Maison des Sciences de l'homme et de la société de Poitiers
- Manuscriptum
- Maruzen-Yushodo Co. Ltd.
- MASA
- McGraw-Hill
- Militos
- Millennium Liber
- Müller & Schindler
- National Library of Wales
- Neri Pozza
- Nova Charta
- Oceanum Verlag
- Odeon
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Oxford University Press
- Parzellers Buchverlag
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Pieper Verlag
- Plon-Nourrit et cie
- Prestel Verlag
- Princeton University Press
- Prisma Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Propyläen Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Recht-Verlag
- Reichert Verlag
- Reichsdruckerei
- Riehn & Reusch
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Rosenkilde and Bagger
- Roxburghe Club
- Salerno Editrice
- Sarajevo Svjetlost
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scolar Press
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- SISMEL - Edizioni del Galluzzo
- Sociedad Mexicana de Antropología
- Sorli Ediciones
- Stainer and Bell
- Styria Verlag
- Sumptibus Pragopress
- Szegedi Tudomànyegyetem
- Taberna Libraria
- Tarshish Books
- Taschen
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- The Marquess of Normanby
- The Richard III and Yorkist History Trust
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- TRI Publishing Co.
- Trident Editore
- Typis Regiae Officinae Polygraphicae
- University of California Press
- University of Chicago Press
- Urs Graf
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- VCH, Acta Humaniora
- VDI Verlag
- Verlag für Regionalgeschichte
- Verlag Styria
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- W. Turnowsky
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft
- Xuntanza Editorial
- Zollikofer AG