Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament
Arguably the finest copperplate engravings ever created adorn the text of this stunning 17th century edition of the New Testament, printed in German with an elegant Fraktur script. It is the work of the famous Matthäus Merian the Elder, who may have even surpassed the great Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in the art of engraving. Originally from Switzerland, Merian learned his craft in Zurich and France and later established an entire dynasty of printers and engravers in Frankfurt. His 77 vibrant color engravings bring the numerous biblical stories home to the beholder and are remarkable for their extraordinary artistry, creativity, and precision. They are truly small masterpieces of Baroque art and, together with a spectacular title page richly decorated with gold, make this "Copper Bible" a particularly coveted specimen of Early Modern printing.

Matthew Merian's Bible of 1630 - New Testament
Mathew or Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593–1650) was a Swiss engraver, the most famous in history, and printer from a patrician background who was active in Frankfurt. He apprenticed in Zürich where he learned the art of copperplate engraving, and studied thereafter in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris. He came to Frankfurt in 1616 and married Maria Magdalena de Bry, the daughter of a publisher, a year later. Their seven children included Matthäus Merian the Younger (1621–87), who also became an engraver like his father, as well as a portrait painter. After the death of Maria, he was remarried to Johanna Catharina Hein in 1646, having two children including Anna Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), who was a pioneer of naturalism and the creation of scientifically accurate illustrations. Merian’s Bible was published in 1630 by the heirs of Lazarus Zetzner (1551–1616), who established a prominent printing house in Strasbourg.

Colored Copperplates of the New Testament
The text of the New Testament, printed in an elegant Fraktur script, is adorned with 77 colored copperplates, considered by art historians to be some of the finest ever created. The gilt-edged pages of the codex are contained in a hard leather binding with gold embossing, metal clasps, and corner fittings. Merian stands out as one of the greatest representatives of the new graphic arts made possible by the printing press. His engravings stand out for their combination of detail, subtlety, and liveliness, making this one of the most fascinating specimens of a printed Bible from the 17th century.

Codicology
Alternative Titles Matthäus Merian: Kupferbibel Biblia 1630 - Neues Testament
Merian-Bibel 1630
Die Matthäus Merian Kupferbibel 1630
Type Printed book on paper
Size / Format 336 pages / 43.0 × 30.0 cm
Origin France
Date 1630
Epochs
Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style
Baroque
Genre
Bibles / Gospels
Language
German
Illustrations 77 coloured copper engravings, title page with gold
Content New Testament with copperplates by Matthew Merian
Artist / School Matthew Merian (1593–1650)
Lazarus Zetzner (publisher)