Iluminating the Word

[PenWorks]

.....The making of the St. John's Bible

I had a client come in and buy some pens for gifts for some of the Phoenix museum workers. She explained to me of this exhibit that has been going on at the Phoenix Art Museum and was about to close and thought I should go down and look at it.

A monumental project undertaken by The Benedictine Abbey of St. John the Baptist in MN and master scribe Donald Jackson.

Basically it is the translation of the old St. John Bible by hand in all its color and glory.

If you enjoy pen & ink, I highly recomend you catch this exhibit if it comes to your area. The magnificent scribe and art work on the parchment is amazing. On exhibit were about 100 of the hand scribe pages from this project, plus many old hand scribe books dating back from 1000 thrugh the 1500's

Anyone in the Phoenix area, I would go and see it, Tuesday nights is free admission and the whole family went tonight. I was able to get off a few pictures before I got busted [:0]

Enjoy the art. I know what I will be practicing this weekend [8D](after my golf game that is)

Pags from the new St. John's Bible, master scribe Donald Jackson

The biblical hand scribe books date back from the 1300- 1500's

They don't make em like they use to

 

[RMB]

Thats some amazing work, I can't imagine the patience and skill required. And to do a whole page like that, and the artwork, without one missed stroke or misspelling...wow. I feel like an incredible nerd actually wishing I could go see some old books.

 

[Ligget]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Anthony![:0][]

 

[R2]

You really have to admire a level odedication and craftsmanship such as that![^]

 

[jwoodwright]

Thank you Anthony. That is wonderful. I would love to see it in person.

 

[Darley]

Thanks for sharing Anthony very nice, books maker and books binder was a trade in those time

 

[PenWorks]

At the gift shop for this exhibit, they had some original practice hand scribe pages being sold, they ranged from 75.00 to 500.00
If I recall, this project is taking about 10 years to complete the book.

 

[wudnhed]

Wow, beautiful!

 

[Dario]

Amazing.

Thanks for sharing Anthony!

 

[PenWorks]

On another note, most of the lettering was done using quills [:0]

 

[Jim in Oakville]

So did you have to go to Confession and say a few prayers for making the pictures...[B)]


Beautifully done, true treasures

I myself have done a few Hail Mary's and Our Fathers for a wide variety of confessions[)]

 

[PenWorks]

Originally posted by Jim in Oakville

So did you have to go to Confession and say a few prayers for making the pictures...

Sure ! You know it is always easier to ask for forgivness after the fact, than for permission to do something you shouldn't

 

[Rifleman1776]

Amazing. That's an understatement. And, many of the old 'illuminated' Bibles were beyond belief. And, I'll never understand how they painted the edges of the pages to show different scenes when bent opposite directions.

 

[PenWorks]

The book I bought at the gift shop, Illuminating the word - The making of ST. John's Bible was a brief history of the project and the scribes that worked on the book. Some tidbits from the book, there were 12 scribes who did the whole book, it took 250 calf skins to make the parchment, it was the first such commission to hand translate the bible in 500 years. St Johns, has its own printing press, the book I bought was printed in China You can own the Heritage Edition, which is a full limited edition (360) reproduction of the original work of art for a mear $115,000.00 [:0] For some other information on this project and where it is touring.
http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/