Vorau Picture Bible

The end of the Middle ages was marked by great spiritual, social, and economic upheavals. These are also reflected in the manuscripts of that time, which can be regarded as outstanding documents of this cultural development. This was especially true of the Bible Historiale, a synthesis of biblical and secular history. Biblical stories were developed through them by secular-historic and philosophical digressions to a type of medieval universal-history that stretches from Creation to the present. Historical gaps in the biblical events were closed with legends and terrestrial history-works. Written in the language of the people, the Bible Historiale filled the demand by offering religious-educational edification on the one hand and also served to widen the knowledge of the population through an accessible history book.

559 outstanding miniatures

Among the approximately 100 German-language Bible Historiale, the Vorauer People's Bible occupies the highest position in an artistic sense. Altogether 559 miniatures accompany the text written in a Bavarian-Austrian dialect. These incredible miniatures are spread across 4 volumes:
1. The New Testament
2. The Old Testament I
3. The Old Testament II
4. The Old Testament III

The Most Beautiful German Picture Bible

The artists colored the skillfully executed quill pen drawings in shining watercolors with their own expressionistic tendencies. The figures are expressed with an inner and outer emotionality indicating an attempt at characterization and individualization -- style-characteristics that were noticeably absent from the "High Art" of the time. Originally, the miniatures were primarily used to interpret the texts and to illustrate the manuscript, but they also fill another function for the present day observer: they document medieval life in a most diverse way. Throughout the illustrations, the Vorauer People's Bible turns into a virtually inexhaustible source for the costumes and decorations of the time. The text of the Vorauer Peoples Bible was executed very carefully in Austrian bastarda and as such is easily legible. The text was written in red while the initials are in red and blue.

Provenance

The Vorauer People's Bible can be exactly dated to its time of completion. Folio 447v contains details of the dates by the scribe: "Also hat ein endt dy wibel dy alt ee vnd ein tail der newen ee vnd ist geendt waren in vigilia omnium sanctorum anno domini M °CCCC °67". The day of the completion was therefore the 31. 10. 1467. The name of the scribe is not mentioned. With all likelihood, it was someone well informed in religious matters, probably a minister from the region of southern Germany. The manner in which the manuscript came to the library of Vorau has not yet been determined. Its first mention there is in the year 1733 and since that time has been regarded as its major treasure.