Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis

Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis

by Selma Shala & Emeline Ignerski

Title Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis Sixti V. Pontificis Max. Iussu Recognita, et Clementis VIII. Autoritate Edita, Versiculis Distincta, Et ad singula Capita Argumentis aucta, Indiceque Epistolarum, Euangeliorom locupletata.
Contributor Nicolaum Pezzana (printer)
Date 1688
Place Venice, Italy
Language Latin
Location Bibliothèque Grammont, centre diocésain de Besançon

Title Biblia Sacra. Quid in Hac Editione a Theologis Lovvaniensibus Praestitum sit. Eorum Praefatio Indicat.
Contributor Christophori Plantini (printer)
Date 1583
Place Antwerp, Belgium
Language Latin
Location Bibliothèque Grammont, centre diocésain de Besançon

Context

Chapter 10 of Revelation is one of the most important and interesting chapters in the Book. This is because of its rich symbolism and the important moment it provides in the narrative. This chapter introduces a powerful angel with a characteristic appearance who brings a small scroll or book, which symbolizes the revelation of divine truths. The chapter continues with the act of John eating the book, and this book is sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. This could be as a metaphor for the dual nature of prophecy, which means that it brings joy and hope (the sweet part), but also carries difficult truths about judgment and suffering (the bitter part). The chapter also contains the mysterious “seven thunders” that John is instructed not to write. This section emphasizes that not all of God’s plans have been revealed to humanity.


Printers : “Pezzana and Plantin”

Nicolò Pezzana (16..-17..) was a well-known Venetian publisher and printer, that worked mostly after 1650s and was also a part of one of the famous publishing families of Venice. The Pezzana family was active in Venetian publishing during the last decades of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, including Nicolo. Book publishing in Venice at the time of the Pezzanas was quite diverse and there was strong competition, but Pezzana’s press remained dedicated mainly to the field of theological and ecclesiastical literature. Pezzana with his press made a contribution to religious life through his publications, in Venice but also in Catholic Europe. Nicolò’s press produced many notable Bibles and other religious texts, which were not only in Latin but also in other languages such as Croatian. This shows that his fame as a printer had spread in other parts of Europe.

As mentioned above, Pezzana specialized in religious texts, so the illustrations in his books are consequently religious in nature. Although his Bibles have a considerable number of illustrations, the names of the illustrator and engraver are often missing. This is a common feature in many of Pezzana’s books, including the Bible in our study. Pezzana’s Bible printed in 1688 has approximately 100 illustrations that are in different artistic styles. This gives the idea that several different people were involved in the work of these illustrations. Starting from this idea in mind, we carried out a careful examination of each image which revealed that some illustrators included their initials in their designs, therefore proving that there were different illustrators that contributed in these illustrations.

The Plantin Press, founded in 1555 in Antwerp by Christophe Plantin, was one of the most important publishing houses of the Renaissance era. Christophe Plantin, originally from France, became well-known for his careful work and business skills. The press was known for producing high-quality books on theology, classics, and science, especially Bibles. Its most famous work was the Polyglot Bible (1568–1572), also called the Biblia Regia. It had texts in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

The Plantin Press was successful until Plantin died in 1589. His son-in-law, Jan Moretus, took over and kept the press going as the Officina Plantiniana. Moretus kept the press’s reputation for excellence. It produced works of typographic and intellectual distinction. The printer’s mark, a hand holding a compass, symbolized the dedication to meticulous craftsmanship that characterized the press. The press also published important books on medicine, cartography, and the humanities. It kept working until the 17th century, even though Antwerp’s economy was getting worse and other cities were starting to publish books.

Illustrations

The woodcut from the Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Edition is an interesting illustration. It was made by an unknown engraver as it doesn’t include any name or signature from the engraver and has a special composition. While making a careful comparison with another Bible edition and reading the Latin text of the chapter, we discovered a potential “mistake” in the depiction. The text of Chapter X:

“And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.”

The text says that the angel’s left foot is meant to rest on the land and his right foot on the sea. However, in this illustration, the positions are reversed, which is a bit strange to deviate from the description given in the biblical text. This unusual example shows us just how tricky it can be for artists and engravers to turn biblical passages into illustrations. Different creators have different ideas about what’s important in these texts, that can shaped by their own views, different insights, and backgrounds. It happens that one artist might focus more on the feelings while working, but maybe another artist might concentrate on getting all the details right. The differences between the styles and feelings of artists can actually make religious writing more interesting to us, as was the case with the Bible we worked on. Also, the great variety of interpretive images of religious books makes us think more about the different aspects of faith and the combination with creativity in publications.

Here’s different representations of Chapter 10 :
1

William BLAKE

Angel of the Revelation (Book of Revelation, chapter 10)

ca. 1803–5

2

Mortier’s bible

Representation of Chapter 10.

Car 3

Plantin’s book

Representation of Chapter 10.


Illustrators

As mentioned earlier, the engravers of the illustrations in Pezzana’s book remain unidentified, despite extensive research. Interestingly, we found numerous initials below the engravings, but no one has been able to link them to specific artists or records. This makes it challenging to determine the identities of the creators of these works.

In contrast to Pezzana’s Bible, the identification of engravers in Plantin’s editions has been more successful. This is because Plantin’s printing workshop kept detailed records, documenting the workers that they had employed each year. Through this data from their records, and by analyzing the initials found on many engravings, scholars have been able to match numerous illustrations with their respective authors/engravers. This type of analysis provides valuable insight into the artistic production of Plantin’s time. It is important to note, however, that the specific image we selected from Chapter 10 does not include any initials on it, making it extremely difficult to name the engraver of this illustration.

  • P.F

  • P.H. : Pieter Huys


Translations

Latin

10 Et vidi alium angelum fortem descendentem de caelo amictum nube, et iris in capite ejus, et facies ejus erat ut sol, et pedes ejus tamquam columnae ignis:

2 et habebat in manu sua libellum apertum: et posuit pedem suum dextrum super mare, sinistrum autem super terram:

3 et clamavit voce magna, quemadmodum cum leo rugit. Et cum clamasset, locuta sunt septem tonitrua voces suas.

4 Et cum locuta fuissent septem tonitrua voces suas, ego scripturus eram: et audivi vocem de caelo dicentem mihi: Signa quae locuta sunt septem tonitrua: et noli ea scribere.

5 Et angelus, quem vidi stantem super mare et super terram, levavit manum suam ad caelum:

6 et juravit per viventem in saecula saeculorum, qui creavit caelum, et ea quae in eo sunt: et terram, et ea quae in ea sunt: et mare, et ea quae in eo sunt: Quia tempus non erit amplius:

7 sed in diebus vocis septimi angeli, cum coeperit tuba canere, consummabitur mysterium Dei sicut evangelizavit per servos suos prophetas.

8 Et audivi vocem de caelo iterum loquentem mecum, et dicentem: Vade, et accipe librum apertum de manu angeli stantis super mare, et super terram.

9 Et abii ad angelum, dicens ei, ut daret mihi librum. Et dixit mihi: Accipe librum, et devora illum: et faciet amaricari ventrem tuum, sed in ore tuo erit dulce tamquam mel.

10 Et accepi librum de manu angeli, et devoravi illum: et erat in ore meo tamquam mel dulce, et cum devorassem eum, amaricatus est venter meus:

11 et dixit mihi: Oportet te iterum prophetare gentibus, et populis, et linguis, et regibus multis.

Albanian

1E paçë një tjatër Ëngjëll të fortë, që zbrit nga qielli, e i pështjellë me një mjergullë, e kish mbë kokë të tij një ilibe; e faqea e tij posi dielli, e këmbët’ e tij posi kollona të flakta.

2E kish mbë dorë të tij një kartëzë të hapëtë; e vuri këmbën’ e tij të djathëtënë ndë det, e të mëngjërënë mbë dhe.

3E thirri me zë të madh posi liondari kur thërret, e kur thirri, nxuarrë jashtë zën’ e ture të shtatë gjëmimetë.

4E kur krienë jashtë zën’ e ture të shtatë gjëmimetë, unë rrijë për të shkruarë; e digjova një zë nga qielli që më thosh: Vulos ato që thanë të shtatë gjëmimetë, e mos i shkruaj ato.

5E Ëngjëlli që paçë të qëndruarë mbi det edhe mbi dhe, ngrijti dorën’ e tij ndër qiell.

6E u përgjërua mb’atë që rron ndë jetë pas jetet, që bëri qielltë edhe sa janë mbë të, edhe dhenë edhe sa janë mbë të, edhe detnë edhe sa janë mbë të, që do të mos jetë më kohë.

7Ma ndë ditë të zërit t’ëngjëllit së shtatë, kur do të nisjë t’i bjerë zurnasë, do të teliosetë mistiri i Perndisë, sikundr’ evangjelisi ndë rop të tij ndë profitë.

8E zëri që digjova përsëri nga qielli kuvëndon me mua, e më thosh: Hajde e merr kartëzën’ e hapëtë që është ndë dorë të ëngjëllit që rri mbi det edhe mbi dhe.

9E vajta tek ëngjëlli, e i thaçë atij: Nëmë kartënë. E ai më thotë: Merre, e hae atë; e do të të pikëllojë barkunë tënd, ma ndë gojë tënde do të jetë e ëmblë posi mjaltë.

10E mora kartëzënë nga dor’ e ëngjëllit, e e hangra atë; e qe ndë gojë time e ëmblë posi mjaltë; e kur e hangra atë, m’ u pikëllua barku im.

11E më thotë mua: Duhetë që të profitepç ti përsëri mbë llaora, e mbë filira, e mbë gjuhëra, e mbë shumë mbretër.

French

10 Je vis un autre ange puissant, qui descendait du ciel, enveloppé d’une nuée; au-dessus de sa tête était l’arc-en-ciel, et son visage était comme le soleil, et ses pieds comme des colonnes de feu.

2 Il tenait dans sa main un petit livre ouvert. Il posa son pied droit sur la mer, et son pied gauche sur la terre;

3 et il cria d’une voix forte, comme rugit un lion. Quand il cria, les sept tonnerres firent entendre leurs voix.

4 Et quand les sept tonnerres eurent fait entendre leurs voix, j’allais écrire; et j’entendis du ciel une voix qui disait: Scelle ce qu’ont dit les sept tonnerres, et ne l’écris pas.

5 Et l’ange, que je voyais debout sur la mer et sur la terre, leva sa main droite vers le ciel,

6 et jura par celui qui vit aux siècles des siècles, qui a créé le ciel et les choses qui y sont, la terre et les choses qui y sont, et la mer et les choses qui y sont, qu’il n’y aurait plus de temps,

7 mais qu’aux jours de la voix du septième ange, quand il sonnerait de la trompette, le mystère de Dieu s’accomplirait, comme il l’a annoncé à ses serviteurs, les prophètes.

8 Et la voix, que j’avais entendue du ciel, me parla de nouveau, et dit: Va, prends le petit livre ouvert dans la main de l’ange qui se tient debout sur la mer et sur la terre.

9 Et j’allai vers l’ange, en lui disant de me donner le petit livre. Et il me dit: Prends-le, et avale-le; il sera amer à tes entrailles, mais dans ta bouche il sera doux comme du miel.

10 Je pris le petit livre de la main de l’ange, et je l’avalai; il fut dans ma bouche doux comme du miel, mais quand je l’eus avalé, mes entrailles furent remplies d’amertume.

11 Puis on me dit: Il faut que tu prophétises de nouveau sur beaucoup de peuples, de nations, de langues, et de rois.

English

1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.

2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.

3And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Seal up the things which the seven thunders have spoken; and write them not.

5And the angel, whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven,

6And he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things which are therein; and the earth, and the things which are in it; and the sea, and the things which are therein: That time shall be no longer.

7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared by his servants the prophets.

8And I heard a voice from heaven again speaking to me, and saying: Go, and take the book that is open, from the hand of the angel who standeth upon the sea, and upon the earth.

9And I went to the angel, saying unto him, that he should give me the book. And he said to me: Take the book, and eat it up: and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.

10And I took the book from the hand of the angel, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11And he said to me: Thou must prophesy again to many nations, and peoples, and tongues, and kings.

Apocalypse- Chapter 10 Quiz

1 / 9

How is the Angel described in both translations of Chapter 10?

2 / 9

What happens after the Angel shouts in both versions?

3 / 9

What does the voice from heaven command John to do with the seven thunders’ message?

4 / 9

What is the taste and effect of the little scroll when John eats it, according to both versions?

5 / 9

Compare the first image from the Pezzana Bible to the text. What elements match the biblical description of the Angel in Chapter 10?

6 / 9

In the second image (Plantini Bible), what artistic feature is most prominent in the depiction of the Angel?

7 / 9

In the third image, notice the interaction between John and the Angel. How does this artistic rendering emphasize the relationship between the two figures compared to the first two images?

8 / 9

Based on the images and the text, what symbolic meaning could the “pillars of fire” (the Angel’s legs) have in both the Pezzana and Plantini Bibles?

9 / 9

How does the size and posture of John in the illustrations reflect his role in receiving the prophecy?

Your score is

The average score is 100%

0%


Sources

Illustrations :

• First : Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis Sixti, 1688 (This bible was found in the collection of Bibliothèque Grammont at Centre Diocésain in Besançon)
• Second : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/340852
• Third : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apocalypse_13.Revelation_cap_10
• Forth : Biblia Sacra. Quid in hac editione a theologis Lovanien sinus praestitum sit, enrum praefatio indicat, 1583 (This bible was found in the collection of Bibliothèque Grammont at Centre Diocésain in Besançon)

References :