Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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MS. GKS 4 2°, vol. I–III,
Biblia Latina. Commonly
called ‘The Hamburg Bible’, or
‘The Bible of Bertoldus’
Inscribed 2011
What is it
A richly illuminated Latin Bible in three volumes, made
in 1255 for Hamburg Cathedral.
Why was it inscribed
The Hamburg Bible is the work of a group of highly
talented clerical craftsmen. The eighty-nine illuminated
initial letters in the three volumes illustrate book themes
and are unique both as expressions of medieval art and
as a source of information on the craft and history of the
medieval book.
Where is it
Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Hamburg Bible is the most important document for
the study of book production and book art in Europe in
the 13th century. Not simply a monument of medieval
bookmaking, the manuscript is a celebration by its creators
of the craft of book production, and a unique expression of
the medieval fascination with books.
The manuscript is in three volumes of 242, 230 and
218 leaves respectively, and starts with a full-page initial
depicting the Creation at the start of Genesis, to finish with
the final Book of the Apocalypse or Revelation. Together
the three volumes weigh almost 40 kg.
The Bible was the work of a scribe named Karolus,
working at the request of Bertoldus, dean of the Chapter
of Hamburg; both are named in a dedication in all
three volumes. However, the artist responsible for the
eighty-nine illuminated letters is not named. The only
clue to his identity is the painting of an illustrator at his
desk at the letter A, starting the Book of the Apocalypse.
In addition to its initial letters decorated with Biblical
scenes, the Hamburg Bible also contains a sequence
illustrating how medieval books were produced, from
the production and preparation of parchment to the
various steps in the writing process and the painter’s
work with illumination.
100 MS. GKS 4 2°, vol. I–III, Biblia Latina. Commonly called ‘The Hamburg Bible’
Although the illustration of a monk writing is popular
in medieval books, depictions of other parts of the
manuscript production process are rare. The sequence in
the Hamburg Bible illustrates the process in more detail
and with greater artistic skill than any other medieval
book. Its images are commonly used to illustrate medieval
bookmaking.
The nineteen scenes depicting the creation of the book
are spread through all three volumes, although most are
gathered in volume three. Most depict either St Jerome,
who translated the Bible into Latin, and St Paul;
St Timothy, St Peter and the four evangelists also feature.
The three volumes belonged to Hamburg Cathedral
until 1784, when they were bought at auction by the Royal
Library in Copenhagen.