Priceless 9th century masterpiece Bible returns to Swiss homeland
The Moutier-Grandval Bible: A 9th-century illustrated Bible
The Moutier-Grandval Bible, an illustrated 9th-century masterpiece considered one of the finest manuscripts in the world, is back in Switzerland, where it miraculously survived the ages in impeccable condition.
The Bible’s Journey
The priceless Bible was produced in Tours in France in around 830-840, before making its way to Moutier-Grandval Abbey, in the mountainous Jura region in northwestern Switzerland. Now in the care of the British Library, the 22-kilogramme manuscript is being loaned for three months to the Jura Museum of Art and History in the region’s tiny capital Delémont.
A Rare Opportunity
It is only the second time it has been loaned from London, after being shown at the Jura Museum in 1981, when 32,000 people flocked to see it. “We could even call it a miracle: this mediaeval masterpiece has survived the ages, the circumstances of history; it has escaped ransacking, wars, fires, revolutions, and has reached us in remarkable condition,” said the museum’s director Nathalie Fleury.
‘Joy, Awe, and Wonder’
The Bible is going on show in the museum’s basement, behind a thick steel door. Sealed inside a glass cabinet, it is the only object in the bare, darkened room. It is open on the first page, showing a vivid illustration of the story of Adam and Eve – its colours still remarkably bright – from the Book of Genesis. For optimum conservation conditions, only five people at a time are allowed in the room, for five minutes only.
A Masterpiece of Scribal and Artistic Endeavour
“It is one of the greatest treasures of the British Library,” said Claire Breay, head of ancient, mediaeval and early modern manuscripts at the British Library. “It is a masterpiece of scribal and artistic endeavour. This spectacular, 1,200-year-old, hand-written Bible, with this wonderful decoration, is still bringing people together and bringing joy, awe, and wonder to everyone who sees it.”
Unraveling the Mysteries
There’s a lot of mystery around the Bible, said book historian and co-curator Angeline Rais. How it came to Moutier-Grandval remains uncertain. The Bible was left behind by canons and forgotten about until it was found, according to legend, in a Delémont attic in the late 1810s or early 1820s. It was sold to an antiques dealer in 1822, and eventually sold to the British Museum in 1836 for £750, or US$93,600 in today’s money. With much of its back story so little known, the Bible even today remains shrouded in a degree of mystery: how it was transported from London to Delémont, and all matters of security, remain a guarded secret.
Conclusion
The Moutier-Grandval Bible’s return to Switzerland is a rare opportunity for the public to witness a masterpiece of scribal and artistic endeavour. The exhibition opens to the public from Saturday until June 8. Research continues on the Bible, notably on the parchment and the pigments used in the illustrations. The museum’s experts hope that the Bible will be displayed in the Jura again, and when it does, that studies will have finally unravelled the mysteries of its long journey.
FAQs
* When does the exhibition open?
The exhibition opens to the public from Saturday until June 8.
* How long is the Bible loaned for?
The Bible is loaned for three months to the Jura Museum of Art and History.
* What is the condition of the Bible?
The Bible is in impeccable condition, considering its age.
* How many Bibles were produced during the same period in Tours?
Around 100 Bibles were produced during the same period in Tours, of which 18 have survived intact, including only three that are illustrated. The Moutier-Grandval Bible is the best-known.
* How many people can enter the room at a time?
Only five people at a time are allowed in the room, for five minutes only.