The stunning full-page oblong woodcuts in "Neuwe Biblische Figuren des Alten und Neuwen Testaments" by Johann Melchior Bocksberger and Jost Amman mark one of the seminal Biblical image series on the journey from Holbein's woodcut miniatures to Jode's foundational copperplate picture Bible, influencing many artists, including Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt van Rijn. Our copy includes the complete preface text, but it is written in Early New High German in Fraktur. Can Gemini transcribe and translate it for us? The answer, as usual, is a resounding yes, with Gemini even transcribing a handwritten signature on the colophon!
Below are just a few of the 130 full-page woodcuts and 3 foldout images on 2 leaves (in our copy the foldouts are unfortunately missing below the fold):
First, we provided Gemini all of the textual preface pages and asked it what language and font it is written in, to get an idea of what we are seeing:
what language and font is this?
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Language: The text is in German. It features older, archaic spellings typical of Early New High German, such as "vnd" (for und) and "auß" (for aus).
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Font: The text is printed in a Blackletter typeface, most closely identifying as Fraktur. This "broken" script was the standard typographic style for printing in German-speaking countries from the 16th century until the mid-20th century.
Let's translate the title page first:
transcribe and translate ENTIRELY. do not summarize, transcribe and translate EVERYTHING.
Transcription: Nuwe Biblische Figuren, deß Alten vnd Neuwen Testaments / geordnet vnd gestellt durch den fürtrefflichen vnd Kunstreichen Johan Bockspergern von Saltzburg / den jüngern / vnd nachgerissen mit sonderm fleiß durch den Kunstverständigen vnd wolerfahrnen Joß Amman von Zürych. Allen Künstlern / als Malern / Goltschmiden / Bildhauwern / Steinmetzen / Schreinern / &c. fast dienstlich vnd nützlich. Getruckt zu Franckfurt am Mayn / Mit Röm. Key. Mt. Freyheit. M. D. LXV.
Translation: New Biblical Figures, of the Old and New Testaments / organized and placed by the excellent and artistic Johan Bocksperger from Salzburg / the younger / and traced with special diligence by the art-expert and well-experienced Joß Amman from Zurich. To all artists / such as painters / goldsmiths / sculptors / stone masons / carpenters / etc. very serviceable and useful. Printed in Frankfurt am Main / With Roman Imperial Majesty's Freedom [Privilege]. 1565.
And the preface text:
Transcription: Dem Edlen vnd Ehrnfesten / weitberhümbten vnd Kunstreichen / Melchiorn Lorichs von Flensburg auß Holstain / Meinem insondern lieben Herrn vnd Freundt. NAch dem die Löbliche Kunst allerley sichtbare / begreiffliche vnd auß den Elementen von Gott wunderbarlich erschaffene Creaturen / mit der Hand / als einer nachfolgerin der Natur / wol geschicklich abzumalen / oder in andere vil mehr wege für augen zu stellen / nit allein bey den alten berhümpten Heydē in hohen grossen Ehren vnd Wirden gehalten (wie in dem Appelle / Phidia / Aristide / vnd andern dergleichen fürtreffenlichen Meistern zu ersehē) Sondern auch auß Göttlichem befehl durch Mosen / den heyligen hohen Propheten vnd Fürsten deß Volcks Jsraels / zu herrlicher zierde der Hüttē deß Herrñ / vñ nachmals durch den aller weisestē König Salomon / in höchstem geschmuck deß Göttlichen Tempels zu Jerusalem / neben anwendung sonsten vielfaltiger grosser mühe / arbeit vñ vn-
Translation: To the Noble and Honorable / widely-famous and artistic / Melchior Lorichs from Flensburg out of Holstein / My especially dear Lord and Friend. Since the praiseworthy art of skillfully painting with the hand, as a follower of nature, all sorts of visible, comprehensible creatures wonderfully created from the elements by God, or to place them before the eyes in many other ways, is not only held in high, great honor and dignity among the ancient famous pagans (as can be seen in Apelles, Phidias, Aristides, and other such excellent masters) But also by divine command through Moses, the holy high Prophet and Prince of the people of Israel, for the glorious adornment of the Tabernacle of the Lord, and afterwards by the wisest King Solomon, in the highest decoration of the Divine Temple in Jerusalem, alongside the application otherwise of manifold great effort, work and in-
Transcription: Vorred. glaublichen kostens / dem Allmechtigen waren Gott zu ehren gebraucht worden / Sollen zwar zweyffels on / meines erachtens / die jenige Kunstliebende Maler vnd Reisser / so in etlichen jaren biß anher jren fleiß dahin gewandt / die heylige Biblische Schrifft / Alten vnd Neuwen Testaments / mit Künstlichen Figuren / von wegen der einfeltigen Christen / so zu solchē heyligen Schrifften wol geneigt / vnd doch dieselbige nicht können låsen / oder aber anderen / die augen gleichsfals zu erlüstigen / vnd jre Hertzen zu mehrerem lesen anzureitzen / Darnach das Maler / Goldschmid / vnd andere dieser Kunst Liebhaber / sich hierinn jhrer gelegenheyt zu ersehen / etlicher massen geziert / vnd künfftigklich noch etwa besser sich vnderstehen / nicht vnbillich zu loben vnd zu fürderen seyn / Damit jre wolmeinende Künstliche arbeit vielen guthertzigen Leuten zu nutz möge ans Liecht gebracht werden. Dieweil ich aber nicht vmb eigener Ehr / ruhms vnd nutz willen / sondern viel mehr Gottes Ehr vnd sein heyliges Göttlichs Wort vnd Euangelium damit zu befürdern / diese gegenwertige Biblische Figuren / welche der wolgerhümpte Hans Bocksperger von Saltzburg / der jünger / in folgender gestalt geordnet / vnd volgends durch den Kunstreichen Joß Amman von Zürych mit fleiß gerissen worden / in Truck zu verfertigē bedacht / Habe ich dieselbige euch / als meinem alten wolbekannten lieben Herren vnnd insondern Freundt (der nicht allein in dieser Maler vnd Reisserkunst / sondern auch anderen Künsten / vor andern fürtreffenlich
Translation: Foreword. credible cost, were used to honor the Almighty true God / Those art-loving painters and draftsmen should indeed, without a doubt, in my opinion, who for several years up to now have devoted their diligence to [illustrating] the holy Biblical Scripture of the Old and New Testaments with artistic figures, for the sake of the simple Christians who are well-inclined towards such holy Scriptures, and yet cannot read them, or else to likewise delight the eyes of others, and to entice their hearts to further reading, After that, [so that] painters, goldsmiths, and other lovers of this art may look into their opportunities herein, somewhat adorned, and in the future undertake it somewhat better, not unjustly be praised and promoted, So that their well-meaning artistic work may be brought to light for the benefit of many good-hearted people. Because I, however, not for the sake of my own honor, fame, and profit, but much more to promote God's honor and His holy Divine Word and Gospel with it, have considered to prepare in print these present Biblical Figures, which the highly famous Hans Bocksperger from Salzburg, the younger, organized in the following form, and subsequently were drawn with diligence by the artistic Joß Amman from Zurich, I have [dedicated] these same to you, as my old, well-known, dear Lord and special Friend (who not only in this art of painting and drawing, but also in other arts, excellently before others excellently
Transcription: Vorred. treffenlich geübt vnd erfahren / all seinen fleiß von jugend auff dahin gewendt / hierinnen zu excelliren / Ja nicht allein die Occidentalische Königreich / Hoch vnd Nider Teutschland / auch Italiam darumb ersucht vñ durchzogen / sondern auch mit hochlöblicher vnd milter gedächtnuß Röm. Keys. Mt. Ferdinand / an den Großmechtigsten Soldan Solyman Türckischen Keyser / stattlich abgefertigter Bottschafft / gen Constantinopel verreiset / daselbst / nicht mit geringer gefahr Leibs vnd Lebens / in das vierdt Jar verharret / viel lobwirdiger Antiquiteten / vnd andere fürtreffenliche Künste vnd sachen / fleissig abgerissen vnd verzeichnet / auch jren vrsprung erforschet / gesehen / vnd erfahren) zu dediciren vnd zu zuschreiben nicht wöllen noch mögen vnderlassen / dienstlicher meinung bittend / Jr wöllet solch mein wollmeinung von mir in allem guten annemen / vnd meiner im besten gedencken / &c. Vnd thu hiemit euch / vnd einen jeden Christlichen Låser / in deß Allmechtigen ewigen Gottes schutz vnd schirm mit langwiriger gesundtheyt Leibs vnd der Seelen befehlen. Geben in Franckfurt am Mayn / 1565. den 28. Augusti. E. W. dienstwilliger / Sigmund Feyerabend.
Translation: Foreword. practiced and experienced, turned all his diligence from youth upwards towards excelling herein, Yes, not only sought out and traveled through the Occidental Kingdoms, High and Low Germany, [and] also Italy for this reason, but also with highly praiseworthy and gentle memory of Roman Imperial Majesty Ferdinand, to the most mighty Sultan Suleiman the Turkish Emperor, majestically dispatched embassy, traveled to Constantinople, there, not with little danger to body and life, persevered into the fourth year, diligently sketched and recorded many praiseworthy antiquities and other excellent arts and things, also investigated, saw, and experienced their origins) not wanted nor been able to omit to dedicate and ascribe, with a serviceable intention requesting, You would accept such my well-meaning from me in all goodness, and remember me for the best, etc. And herewith I commend you, and every Christian reader, into the protection and shelter of the Almighty eternal God with long-lasting health of body and soul. Given in Frankfurt am Main, 1565. the 28th of August. Your Worship's willing servant, Sigmund Feyerabend.
And the colophon:
Transcription: Getruckt zu Franckfurt am Mayn. durch Georg Raben / Sigmund Feyerabend / vnd Weygand Hanen Erben. [Printer's Emblem Text: WEIGAND HANERB, SIGMVND FEIERABENT, GEORG RAB] M. D. LXV. De Giulio Caporale dannersa [Handwritten]
Translation: Printed in Frankfurt am Main. by Georg Rab / Sigmund Feyerabend / and Weygand Han's heirs. [Printer's Emblem Text: Weigand Han's Heirs, Sigmund Feierabent, Georg Rab] 1565. By Giulio Caporale [?] [Handwritten]