The Biblia pauperum (Latin for "Paupers' Bible") was a tradition of picture Bibles beginning probably with Ansgar, and a common printed block-book in the later Middle Ages to visualize the typological correspondences between the Old and New Testaments. Unlike a simple "illustrated Bible", where the pictures are subordinated to the text, these Bibles placed the illustration in the centre, with only a brief text or sometimes no text at all. Words spoken by the figures in the miniatures could be written on scrolls coming out of their mouths. To this extent one might see parallels with modern comics.
Three episodes from a block-book Biblia Pauperum illustrating typological correspondences between the Old and New Testaments: Eve and the serpent, the Annunciation, Gideon's miracle
The tradition is a further simplification of the Bible moralisée tradition, which was similar but with more text. Like these, the Biblia pauperum was usually in the local vernacular language, rather than Latin.
Originally Paupers' Bibles took the form of colourful hand-painted illuminated manuscripts on vellum, though in the fifteenth century printed examples with woodcuts took over. The Biblia pauperum was among the commonest works put out in block-book form, mainly in the Netherlands and Germany, where both text and images were done entirely in a single woodcut for each page. The first of many editions printed using movable type was printed in German, in Bamberg in about 1462 by Albrecht Pfister; there were about eighteen incunabulum editions.[1][2] A Biblia pauperum was not intended to be bought by the poor — some manuscripts were opulent and very expensive, although the block-book versions were far cheaper, and probably affordable by parish priests. The simpler versions were however probably used by the clergy as a teaching aid for those who could not read, which included most of the population. The name Biblia pauperum was applied by German scholars in the 1930s.
Christ rises from the tomb, alongside Jonah spit onto the beach. Kings Ms. 5, f. 20. Netherlands, beginning of the fifteenth century.
Each group of images in the Biblia pauperum is dedicated to one event from the Gospels, which is accompanied by two slightly smaller pictures of Old Testament events which prefigure the central one, according to belief of medieval theologians in typology; these parallels are explained in two blocks of text, and each of the three Biblical scenes is introduced with a Latin verse. Four Prophets hold scrolls with quotations from their Books, which prefigure the same event from the Gospels. For example, the scene of Longinus spearing Jesus as he hangs on the Cross is accompanied by God bringing forth Eve from the side of Adam, and Moses striking the rock so that water flowed forth, together with prophecies of Zechariah, the Psalms, the Lamentations and Amos.[3]
The earliest manuscripts of the Biblia Pauperum were made in Bavaria and Austria in the 14th century, they have 34–36 groups. Later versions add more scenes, and one of the most detailed versions is the 50-part blockbook version, produced in the Netherlands in 1480–1495.
Alternativesedit
The Biblia was rivalled by the Speculum Humanae Salvationis (Mirror of Human Salvation), another very popular compilation of typological pairings, with rather more text than the Biblia. The iconographical programmes of these books are shared with many other forms of medieval art, including stained glass windows and carvings of biblical subjects. Since books are more portable than these, they may well have been important in transmitting new developments in depicting the subjects. Most subjects, such as the Annunciation to the Shepherds, can be seen in a very similar form at different dates, in different media and different countries.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biblia pauperum.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Biblia Pauperum". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze. Nicolas de Hanapis. (1480). Biblia pauperum (in Latin). Vol. 1. Georgius Wolch. p. 214. Archived from the original on 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Biblia Pauperum (50-part Blockbook) (Block A). Facsimile of the 50-part blockbook Biblia Pauperum with identifications of all scenes and prophets, in the Warburg Institute Iconographic Database.
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, Arch. G c.14 Digital facsimile of the Biblia Pauperum in the Bodleian Library
Hunterian Library, University of Glasgow, Sp Coll Hunterian Ds.2.4
John Rylands Library, Manchester, Biblia pauperum, deutsch. Bamberg: Albrecht Pfister, ca. 1462 (GW 4325; ISTC ib00652700)
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., Biblia pauperum. Netherlands or Germany, ca. 1470 40 leaves. illus. 29 cm. From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
January 01, 1970
biblia, pauperum, confused, with, poor, bible, latin, paupers, bible, tradition, picture, bibles, beginning, probably, with, ansgar, common, printed, block, book, later, middle, ages, visualize, typological, correspondences, between, testaments, unlike, simple. Not to be confused with Poor Man s Bible The Biblia pauperum Latin for Paupers Bible was a tradition of picture Bibles beginning probably with Ansgar and a common printed block book in the later Middle Ages to visualize the typological correspondences between the Old and New Testaments Unlike a simple illustrated Bible where the pictures are subordinated to the text these Bibles placed the illustration in the centre with only a brief text or sometimes no text at all Words spoken by the figures in the miniatures could be written on scrolls coming out of their mouths To this extent one might see parallels with modern comics Three episodes from a block book Biblia Pauperum illustrating typological correspondences between the Old and New Testaments Eve and the serpent the Annunciation Gideon s miracle The tradition is a further simplification of the Bible moralisee tradition which was similar but with more text Like these the Biblia pauperum was usually in the local vernacular language rather than Latin Contents 1 History 2 Alternatives 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editOriginally Paupers Bibles took the form of colourful hand painted illuminated manuscripts on vellum though in the fifteenth century printed examples with woodcuts took over The Biblia pauperum was among the commonest works put out in block book form mainly in the Netherlands and Germany where both text and images were done entirely in a single woodcut for each page The first of many editions printed using movable type was printed in German in Bamberg in about 1462 by Albrecht Pfister there were about eighteen incunabulum editions 1 2 A Biblia pauperum was not intended to be bought by the poor some manuscripts were opulent and very expensive although the block book versions were far cheaper and probably affordable by parish priests The simpler versions were however probably used by the clergy as a teaching aid for those who could not read which included most of the population The name Biblia pauperum was applied by German scholars in the 1930s nbsp Christ rises from the tomb alongside Jonah spit onto the beach Kings Ms 5 f 20 Netherlands beginning of the fifteenth century Each group of images in the Biblia pauperum is dedicated to one event from the Gospels which is accompanied by two slightly smaller pictures of Old Testament events which prefigure the central one according to belief of medieval theologians in typology these parallels are explained in two blocks of text and each of the three Biblical scenes is introduced with a Latin verse Four Prophets hold scrolls with quotations from their Books which prefigure the same event from the Gospels For example the scene of Longinus spearing Jesus as he hangs on the Cross is accompanied by God bringing forth Eve from the side of Adam and Moses striking the rock so that water flowed forth together with prophecies of Zechariah the Psalms the Lamentations and Amos 3 The earliest manuscripts of the Biblia Pauperum were made in Bavaria and Austria in the 14th century they have 34 36 groups Later versions add more scenes and one of the most detailed versions is the 50 part blockbook version produced in the Netherlands in 1480 1495 Alternatives editThe Biblia was rivalled by the Speculum Humanae Salvationis Mirror of Human Salvation another very popular compilation of typological pairings with rather more text than the Biblia The iconographical programmes of these books are shared with many other forms of medieval art including stained glass windows and carvings of biblical subjects Since books are more portable than these they may well have been important in transmitting new developments in depicting the subjects Most subjects such as the Annunciation to the Shepherds can be seen in a very similar form at different dates in different media and different countries See also editSequential art Medieval popular Bible List of most expensive books and manuscriptsReferences edit J Victor Scholderer 1912 Albrecht Pfister of Bamberg book review The Library S3 III 230 6 doi 10 1093 library s3 iii 10 230 ISTC British Library Archived from the original on 2008 05 27 Retrieved 2007 07 09 Faksimile Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Further reading editCornell Henrik 1925 Biblia Pauperum Stockholm a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Golden Bible Biblia Pauperum 15th century British Library London Kings MS 5 Dyrness William A 2004 Reformed Theology and Visual Culture The Protestant Imagination from Calvin to Edwards Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 37 ISBN 978 0 521 54073 5 Heesen Anke te 2002 Within the Tradition of the Biblical Image pp 65ff The World in a Box The Story of an Eighteenth Century Picture Encyclopedia Chicago University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 0 226 32286 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biblia pauperum nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Biblia Pauperum Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze Nicolas de Hanapis 1480 Biblia pauperum in Latin Vol 1 Georgius Wolch p 214 Archived from the original on 2018 10 12 Retrieved 2018 10 13 Bibliotheca Palatina Heidelberg Cod Pal germ 59 Biblia pauperum Schweiz 1518 Contents Inhaltsverzeichnis 2009 Bibliotheque nationale de France Biblia Pauperum 50 part Blockbook Block A Facsimile of the 50 part blockbook Biblia Pauperum with identifications of all scenes and prophets in the Warburg Institute Iconographic Database Bodleian Library University of Oxford Arch G c 14 Digital facsimile of the Biblia Pauperum in the Bodleian Library Hunterian Library University of Glasgow Sp Coll Hunterian Ds 2 4 John Rylands Library Manchester Biblia pauperum deutsch Bamberg Albrecht Pfister ca 1462 GW 4325 ISTC ib00652700 Library of Congress Washington D C Biblia pauperum Netherlands or Germany ca 1470 40 leaves illus 29 cm From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Biblia pauperum amp oldid 1179353869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
