3413
«Ettenheimmünster bible» Biblia sacra vulgatae editionis
jussu Sixti Quinti Pontificis Max. recognita, locupletibus SS. Patrum et aliorum Probatorum S. Scripturae interpretum commentariis illustrata [...]. Published by Germain Cartier. Four vols. Constance, Jakob Friedrich Bez, 1751. With title vignettes and numerous copper plates. First vol. 758 p., second vol. 562 p., third vol. 588 p., fourth vol. 571 p., index circa 52 p., not paginated. Not collated. Contemporary calf with rich gilt decoration on spine, armorial centrepiece and reddish edges. In addition a contemporary letter in French.
H 38, W 24 cm.
The Benedictine monk Germanus Cartier (1690 - 1749), who was born in Porrentruy (Jura/Switzerland) and belonged to the monastery of Ettenheimmünster, devoted himself to the Latin text of the Bible, the so-called Vulgate, and published it with a German translation printed alongside and numerous footnotes. Particularly noteworthy are the impressive copper plates by I.G. Pintz, H. Sperling, G.D. Heumann, P.G. Harder and other engravers. Above all, the opulent framings of the selected Bible scenes are characterised by detailed inventiveness and lively decorative joy. The baroque ornaments incorporate naturalistically conceived elements that relate thematically and in terms of content to the events in the picture itself. These are the engravings that were originally used for the «Physica Sacra» by the Swiss polymath Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672 - 1733), a work that was intended to combine the stories of the Bible with natural history knowledge.
Provenance: Library of the last Prince-Bishop of Basel Franz Xaver von Neveu (1749 - 1828); after his death it became private property of the family of Neveu, Durbach.
Literature: VD18 90723686; VD18 90723694; VD18 90723767; VD18 90723775.

Condition report