Vienna Biblia Pauperum

This manuscript created in the 1130’s follows the typical iconographic program of a Biblia Pauperum or “Paupers’ Bible” consisting of typological groups of images from the Old and New Testaments. In the medieval tradition, so-called “types” from the Old Testament were interpreted as anticipating scenes from the life of Christ (the antitype). However, the style of these images was influenced both by the Klosterneuburg tradition of the two-volume Bible and various architectural set pieces, such as the thrones of Elijah and Nebuchadnezzar. The facial expressions of the figures, dressed in contemporary robes, are expressive and almost caricature-like and their dramatic gestures psychologically penetrate the scenic events. Each of the 17 fully illuminated pages comprises two groups of images, each consisting of a central medallion flanked by two illuminations. Short captions explain what is depicted.