Made in the famous Wenceslas workshop in Prague: a mammoth bible in German with 646 fantastic miniatures for the German emperor
Wenceslas Bible
Prague (Czech Republic) — 1389–1400

Wenceslas Bible
Prague (Czech Republic) — 1389–1400
This lavish German language Bible predates the famous translation of Martin Luther (1483–1546) by almost 150 years
Commissioned by King Wenceslaus IV (1361–1419) between 1390 and 1400, it was furnished with 646 masterful miniatures in his Prague “Wenceslaus Workshop”
Appearing often therein are his favorite animal, the kingfisher, the "Wenceslaus knot", and the "woman with bath tub" (a lover?)

Wenceslas Bible
Finding of Moses
This beautiful Gothic miniature depicts how Moses’ mother saved him from the slaughter of male Hebrew children that had been ordered by Pharaoh. “Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrews’ children’.” (Ex. 2:5-6)
Wenceslas Bible
- Wenzelsbibel
- Bibel des Köönigs Wenzel
- Wenzel Bible
Short Description
Contrary to popular belief, the Bible printed by Johannes Gutenberg was not the first German-language Bible. In fact, the Wenceslas Bible predates it by almost 150 years. The massive, multi-volume Bible was made in Prague at the behest of King Wenceslas I of Bohemia between 1390 and 1400 and is considered to be a primary work of medieval illumination. Aside from the important German translation of the Bible, the manuscript contains some of the finest illumination in art history including 646 miniatures and endless marginal depictions with entertaining and humorous drolleries. This magnum opus is housed today among the splendid collections of the Austrian National Library.
Wenceslas Bible
Almost 150 years before Luther’s translation of the Bible was first published, one of the most reputed schools of illumination in Prague produced the first German deluxe Bible manuscript. The Wenceslas Bible, with its 646 miniatures and rich, frequently symbolical and narrative marginal decoration, was written at the behest of King Wenceslas I of Bohemia between 1390 and 1400. Words are insufficient to describe the elaborate, extremely lavish decoration of this luxury Bible. Wenceslas summoned the best illuminators of Europe to his court in Prague where they created this unique manuscript. Unfortunately, the artists have all remained anonymous.
The First Deluxe Bible Manuscript in German
A chef-d’œuvre of Wenceslas’ workshop and a major achievement of European illumination, the Wenceslas Bible had only raised the interest of art historians until recently. Its distinction as a bibliophilic gem of the first order should, however, not make us forget that with more than 2,400 pages, it also constitutes a highly important, if not the most important and finest documentation of pre-Reformation Bible translation. Of the three volumes originally planned (two tomes for the Old and one for the New Testament) only the two of the Old Testament were executed. By the 18th century the manuscript had grown to enormous size and filled six volumes, when it found its way from the Bohemian court to that of the Habsburg dynasty. Today, the giant-format books are kept in the Austrian National Library.
The Fascinating World of Drolleries
The marginal decorations of the Wenceslas Bible are almost as fascinating as its miniatures. These drolleries are characterized by an unmistakable sense of humor. Among the main protagonists, one finds a girl dressed in a short, shirt-like garment whose attributes – a bucket and a sponge – identify her as a bathing maiden. She is accompanied by a male figure, probably King Wenceslas himself, who frequently appears captured in the letters W and E. In addition, countless allegorical creatures, such as the wild man or the kingfisher, roam throughout the book.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Wenzelsbibel
Bibel des Köönigs Wenzel
Wenzel Bible - Size / Format
- 2,352 pages / 53.0 x 36.5 cm
- Origin
- Prague (Czech Republic)
- Date
- 1389–1400
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 646 large miniatures, countless illuminated borders and initials

Wenceslas Bible
Book of Genesis: 7 Days of Creation
This kaleidoscope of illumination is a wonderful testament to the artistic décor of this manuscript, one of the greatest works of medieval book art. It is an exemplary page of Gothic illumination consisting of bright hues of red, blue, green, and gold leaf. Seven medallion miniatures depict the beginning of Genesis, wherein the creation of the world is recounted.
As is true with the rest of the manuscript, the marginalia of this page is as artistically refined as the miniature itself. The escutcheons of King Wenceslaus IV, who commissioned the manuscript, can be seen, as well as a shield that has been scrapped. There are also numerous crowns, birds, human figures, angels, grotesques, and other details embedded into the gorgeous flowering tendrils.
3 available facsimile edition(s) of „Wenceslas Bible“
Wenzelsbibel (Complete Edition)
- Publisher
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1987
- Limited Edition
- 780 copies
- Binding
- Hearvy leather binding with love knot on front cover
- Commentary
-
2 volumes by G. Schmidt, H. Heger, I. Hlaváˇcek and F. U nterkircher
Language: German
2 commentary volumes by G. Schmidt (Vienna), H. Heger (Vienna), I. Hlavácek (Prague). F. Unterkircher (Vienna).
Binding: leather. All folios are cut according to the original size and sewn according to the original gathering. - More Information
- All 2,428 pages of the manuscript are reproduced in the original format of 53 x 36.5 cm, compiled in 9 volumes and totalling 464 miniatures and countless drolleries. Two commentary volumes describe the miniatures and present the contents of the manuscript in all its aspects. The single volumes: Vol. 1: GENESIS and EXODUS Vol. 2: LEVITICUS and NUMERI Vol. 3: DEUTERONOMIUM and JOSUA Vol. 4: RICHTER, RUTH and SAMUEL I Vol. 5: SAMUEL II, KINGS I Vol. 6: KINGS II, CHRONIK I Vol. 7: CHRONIK II, ESRA I, ESRA II Vol. 8: ESRA III, TOBIAS, PREDIGER Vol. 9: Documentation Volume Two commentary volumes All folios are cut according to the original.
Wenzelsbibel (Half Leather Edtion)
- Publisher
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1987
- Limited Edition
- 25 copies
- Binding
- Half leather binding with love knot on front cover
- Commentary
-
2 volumes by G. Schmidt, H. Heger, I. Hlaváˇcek and F. U nterkircher
Language: German
2 commentary volumes by G. Schmidt (Vienna), H. Heger (Vienna), I. Hlavácek (Prague). F. Unterkircher (Vienna).
Binding: leather. All folios are cut according to the original size and sewn according to the original gathering. - More Information
- All 2,428 pages of the manuscript are reproduced in the original format of 53 x 36.5 cm in 1 volume and totalling 464 miniatures and countless drolleries. Two commentary volumes describe the miniatures and present the contents of the manuscript in all its aspects. All folios are cut according to the original.
Wenzelsbibel (1-Volume-Edition)
- Publisher
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1987
- Limited Edition
- 25 copies
- Binding
- Hearvy leather binding
- Commentary
-
2 volumes by G. Schmidt, H. Heger, I. Hlaváˇcek and F. U nterkircher
Language: German
2 commentary volumes by G. Schmidt (Vienna), H. Heger (Vienna), I. Hlavácek (Prague). F. Unterkircher (Vienna).
Binding: leather. All folios are cut according to the original size and sewn according to the original gathering. - More Information
- All 2,428 pages of the manuscript are reproduced in the original format of 53 x 36.5 cm in 1 volume and totalling 464 miniatures and countless drolleries. Two commentary volumes describe the miniatures and present the contents of the manuscript in all its aspects. All folios are cut according to the original.
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