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Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare selected detail of the 1553 - illustrated book.
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  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare selected detail of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare notable image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare photograph of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image from the book of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare view of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare photograph of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare highlighted image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare fascinating view of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare detail of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare notable image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example from the work of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example from the work of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare selected detail of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare notable image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare photograph of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image from the book of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare view of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare photograph of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare highlighted image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare fascinating view of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare detail of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare notable image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare image of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example from the work of the 1553 - illustrated book.
  • Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae by Giovio, Paolo, a rare example from the work of the 1553 - illustrated book.
Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae

300 tiny woodcuts, a whole universe of human passion from the 16th century

Biblia Veteris Testamenti Et Historiae
Artificiosis Picturis Effigiata. Biblische Historien, Künstlich Fürgemalet

1553, Frankfurt Am Main (Francofurti), Apud Hermannum Gulffericum (Gulfferich)

$1,250 USD

Overview

Extremely rare "bible in images" in Latin and German divided into three parts and fully illustrated with almost 300 woodcuts in-text.
The Old Testament is illustrated with 139 scenes (1 missing), the New with 108 and the Apocalypse with 26, reminiscent of the earlier block book bibles.

Inside the book

The engraved frontispiece is signed HB and therefore the work is attributed to Hans Brosamer, German artist active in the early to mid-1500s, and belonging to the circle of German printmakers nicknamed the “Little Masters” for their meticulously detailed, small-format prints. Working in Fulda from about 1520 until 1545, he produced portraits of prominent local figures and designed engravings and woodcuts. Around 1546 he relocated to Erfurt, where he turned entirely to print design. Brosamer created both copper engravings and woodcuts, supplying illustrations for major Protestant texts such as Martin Luther’s Wittenberg Bible and Frankfurt Catechism (both 1550). His subjects ranged from religious and mythological to classical and everyday scenes. Drawing on Netherlandish Mannerist influences, he favored elaborate architectural settings populated with groups of figures, and his engravings are notable for their tight, intricate hatching that lends them a rich textural density.
The engravings in this Bible exemplify both technical mastery and the Nordic style of the period. Biblical figures are shown in contemporary 16th-century dress, and the architecture often recalls medieval settings. Above all, the images are imbued with intensity, at times verging on drama, reflecting the religious conflicts of the era.
As per the British Museum catalog (1904,0206.45): "A series of numerous woodcuts by Hans Brosamer, showing in three parts subjects from the Old Testament (139 woodcutsin the manner of Holbein), New Testament (109 woodcuts), and the Apocalypse (29 woodcuts), including three title-pages with woodcut border (showing the prophets Isaiah and Micah, and a Nativity scene) and two woodcuts respectively; and with two prophets facing each other, and publisher's device of Gülfferich; each title-page with Latin and German title (two title-pages printed with red and black); and with Latin verses and German captions throughout, published in Frankfurt by Hermann Gülfferich, 1554, n.d., and 1553."

Why La Fenice chose it

The hundreds of illustrations by Hans Brosamer drop us right into the turbulence of Luther’s Reformation era, an age of passion, turmoil, and change. But here’s the trick: their fine lines and bold drama don’t just illustrate the Bible - and you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy it. This tiny gem is pure eye candy, a miniature stage where timeless themes of love and hate, war and forgiveness (and every messy nuance of the human spirit) play out in glorious style.
Condition Report

Pp. [2] f.e., A8, B8, C8, D8, E8, F8, G8, H8, I7; A8, B8, C8, D8, E8, F8, G8; Aa8, Bb6. Incomplete.

Binding in full old vellum, probably 18th century, with manuscript title on the spine. Edges sprinkled in red. Handsome engraved copperplate frontispiece with figures of prophets and the Nativity (signed HB); title printed in red and black. Old manuscript ownership note on a cartouche pasted to the lower margin outside the plate mark. Some marginal dampstaining throughout the copy. Leaf I8 of the first pagination is missing (according to the copy available online from the Toronto Public Library, the page has a decorative colophon and a large woodcut printer device; the same is actually present in this copy at th eend of the second pagination, between New Testament and Apocalyps). Leaf C6 of the second pagination missing (New Testament, Matthaei XXII) is lacking. The third pagination (Apocalypse) ends with Bb6 and is thus missing Bb8. According to the copy in the Toronto Public Library, the same printer device is missing here at the end of the volume. Summarizing: two printer devices missing (I8 and Bb8) and one New Testament page (C6 second numeration). Every page (with the exception of the frontispieces) bears a framed woodcut illustration. Nearly fine copy, very charming.

Dimensions (inches): 6 x 4 x 1
About the author

Hans Brosamer (c.1500–1554), German engraver and woodcut artist known for detailed Protestant biblical prints.

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