#Austrian National Library

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📍Austrian National Library, Vienna, Austria

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Study of a Lizard, a Chameleon, and a Salamander, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1553

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... endless amount of knowledge ...

The Austrian National Library, Vienna, Austria

One of the most overlooked masterpieces of the world, with a collection of 12 million books, manuscripts and maps. This includes the world's largest collection of papyrus, a vital path to the ancient world.

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State Hall of the Austrian National Library by Chris Zielecki

Pixelfed | Instagram | Homepage

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For #NationalLobsterDay 🦞:

Giorgio Liberale (Italian, 1527–1579)  

Mediterranean #lobster, 1558

parchment, H 640 mm (25.19 in) X W 870 mm (34.25 in)

Austrian National Library

[uwmspeccoll]

Easter Moralized

This Easter (which, btw, in 2024 is also International Transgender Day of Visibility) we explore the gilded pages of the Vienna Bible Moralisée (moralizing bible), of which we hold the first full-color facsimile published in 1973. The Vienna Bible Moralisée is also known as Vienna 2554, referencing its current place of residence at the Austian National Library in Vienna. One of only three 13th-century moralizing bibles still in existence, this manuscript is an excellent example of the of the ways in which Christians worked to simplify the lessons of the Bible for those that were not theological scholars. Even though they were made to be more accessible, these types of manuscripts were only created for the wealthy class; they needed to understand the Christian Bible and its lessons to ensure that they were (theoretically) promoting moral behavior. Vienna 2554 is thought to have been commissioned by Phillip II Augustus, for his son, Louis VIII or his bride, Blanche of Castile.

The Bible Moralisée is curious for two reasons: it does not actually contain the entire text of the Christian Bible, and it is mostly filled with images, rather than with words. These specific attributes contribute to the accessibility of Christian morals by abbreviating biblical stories and using illuminations to visually represent them.

Interestingly, the designs on the pages of these bibles imitate stained glass representations at the time: the eight medallions placed in columns of four; the inclusion of quatrefoils in between these medallions; the use of vivid colors. This reflection of architectural design in the illuminations may have allowed people to visualize themselves in a church and may have led to more contemplative readings of the text that emphasized the teachings of priests and theologians at the time. One of the most well-known images in these types of bibles is Jesus as architect and creator of the universe. This type is seen on the frontispiece of this moralizing bible: Jesus is holding a compass as he focuses on the creation of the world. Geometry and astronomy were often associated with the divine in the Middle Ages and this viewpoint is well explained in Vanderbilt's Divinity Library website: "God has created the universe after geometric and harmonic principles, to seek these principles was therefore to seek and worship God."

The creation of the moralizing bible also inspired later moralizing versions of books and poetry, like Ovid’s Metamorphoses. These types of moralizing volumes edited and changed parts of the works to make them conform to Christian teachings oft the time.

Our facsimile was published in 1973 by the Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt in Graz, Austria in an edition of 3,000 copies at the manuscript's original size. To see the original manuscript, you can visit the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna or view the entirety of the manuscript online on their website here.

View more manuscript posts.

– Sarah S., Special Collections Graduate Intern

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Miniature Masterpiece

The Austrian National Library houses an extraordinary manuscript from the 16th century, which is considered one of the rarest literary curiosities.

This miniature masterpiece contains Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" in Italian in an amazingly small format.

The book is so tiny that the writing is barely legible with the naked eye.

The pages measure only 24 x 15 mm, and the entire book block is only about 18 mm thick. It is considered the smallest manuscript in the library's collection.

The font consists of 11 lines per page in an incredibly filigree handwriting, which was most likely made using a magnifying glass.

In addition, the book is decorated with around 30 extremely fine pen and ink drawings, which are just as precise and artistic as the writing itself.

These drawings give the work an artistic depth that goes far beyond the mere reproduction of the text.

This unique manuscript is not only a technical marvel, but also a testament to the extraordinary skills and dedication of the art of writing at the time.

It testifies to the veneration that Dante and his "Divine Comedy" have been held for centuries.

Such works are not only cultural treasures, but also a reminder of the possibilities of human artistry and dedication, even on the smallest scale.

—

Dante Alighieri (c. May 1265 – 14 September 1321)

"Divine Comedy" (1308-1321)

[mplanetleaf]

Roman Empire Gold Found in Sri Padmanabhaswamy Vaults!

[wonderjourneys]

Vienna - inside & out. A full city tour

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Austrian National Library, Vienna

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[talaraleya]

I am very much in love with this library in Vienna.

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.... endless amount of knowledge ...

The Austrian National Library in Vienna is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The Baroque Grand Hall houses over 200.000 historic books.

The impressive Grand Hall is almost 80 meters long and 30 meters high, and is crowned at its center by a mighty dome. The riotously colorful fresco by court painter Daniel Gran shows the "becoming a god" of Emperor Charles VI, who commissioned the construction of the library in 1723. This also stands hewn in marble in the center of the central oval – directly beneath the dome. There are other 16 statues of rulers and nobility of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg family.

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Austrian National Library, Vienna

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Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Wien VIII (Austrian National Library Vienna VIII), Candida Höfer, 2003

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JOMP October book photo challenge | Day 17 - favorite library

Austrian National Library in Vienna