| Wenceslas Bible | |
|---|---|
| Vienna, Austrian National Library (Cod. 2759–64) | |
 Initial of the book of Genesis – Seven days of creation | |
| Type | Bible |
| Date | 1390s |
| Place of origin | Prague Bohemia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Language(s) | German |
| Illuminated by | Frána Kuthner and others |
| Patron | Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia |
| Material | Parchment |
| Size | 1,214 leaves |
| Format | 530 x 365 mm |
| Contents | Old Testament (Daniel, Minor Prophets and Maccabees missing) |
| Illumination(s) | 654 miniatures |
The Wenceslas Bible[1] (German: Wenzelsbibel) or the Bible of Wenceslaus IV (Czech: Bible Václava IV.) is a multi-volume illuminated biblical manuscript written in the German language. The manuscript was commissioned by the King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (that time also the King of the Romans) and made in Prague in the 1390s. The Wenceslas Bible is unique and very precious not only because of its text, which is one of the earliest German translations of the Bible, but also because of its splendid illuminations. Inside the manuscript contains images relating to 14th century politics as well as images of "Wild Men", an iconographic representation of man's temptation towards barbarism. This oldest German deluxe Bible manuscript[2] remained uncompleted.[1]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
praguewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Wenceslas Bible – Complete Edition". www.adeva.com. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt Graz. Retrieved 12 June 2014.