Gerard de Jode's 1585 Thesaurus Sacrarum was arguably one of the first true "picture Bibles" and the small number of complete copies that survive today capture a seminal early nexus point connecting the book and art worlds. Only some of the surviving copies contain the original 1579 preface or the two-column introductory poem. What do these nearly 500-year-old Latin texts say? Let's take a quick cellphone photo of both pages and ask Gemini 3.1 Pro to read and translate them into English. The resulting translations match exactly the human translation published in Peter van der Coelen's and Marjolein Leesberg's "Depicting the Bible and Mapping the World: Gerard de Jode and his Legacy."
Let's start with the preface and use the following prompt with Gemini 3.1 Pro: "Translate this into English in its entirety. Do not simplify, truncate or leave anything out.":
Gemini's translation:
PREFACE to the Treasury of the Histories of the Old Testament.
You have in this book, kind reader, a Treasury of the principal histories of the Old Testament, depicted by the most elegant images or figures, from the very Creation of the world right up to the Maccabees. And it comprises thirty-two histories: some of which consist of three, certain ones of six or seven, and even more parts, according to the subject of the history included in the catalog: devised by various and most excellent painters of this age, and compiled at great expense. Therefore, this book will be highly useful and most suitable for all painters, sculptors, goldsmiths, glassmakers, and other artisans of that kind, who, by the benefit of painters, adorn and refine their own works. Furthermore, since the principal and most well-known chapters of the scriptures have been briefly compiled here, with easy effort and no tedium of reading, by the service of the eyes alone, it will be possible to survey things which otherwise you would scarcely grasp through constant and lengthy reading. For just as Cosmographers clearly encompass the layout of lands, and cities, and mountains, and woods, and seas, and rivers, and lakes, and even very many living creatures, in a single map: so a single page often comprises the entire history of various chapters. Therefore, how much importance these Biblical figures bring to refreshing the memory is too well known to require testimony. Whoever, therefore, desires to exchange all the tedium of reading for a most pleasant viewing, and to renew old memories, let him make this Treasury familiar to himself, let him often open and contemplate it, and he will rejoice that he has made progress in the study of piety with the least tedium and labor. Moreover, pious reader, before I make an end of speaking, this one thing remains to be stated beforehand: it is by no means my intention to wish to knock the Bible itself out of anyone's hands with this little book of ours, far be it that this should come into my mind: but that I wished to be of benefit by my work, as I mentioned above, first to painters, then to all other men of whatever condition, whom the labor and weariness of reading, due to old age or other occupations, turns away from reading the Bible: if I see that this labor of mine is not unwelcome to you, it will come to pass that someday I will devote the same effort to the books of the New Testament.
And the two-column poem:
Gemini's translation:
To the Candid Spectator,
The things which the scrolls of the old law formerly recounted,
Which are like a shadow of the New Testament:
Here, honest reader, you have the sacred histories
Placed briefly in order, as if in a mirror.
They take their beginning from what the Maker of Heaven
Created out of nothing, whatever lies hidden in the world.
In which He did not reveal the strong reins of His kingdom,
Nor declare Himself God without end.
However, that Prince of Eloquence [Cicero] did not see this,
Nor did Plato himself with his companions know this.
Following this is how Abel, killed by his brother Cain,
Spends all eternity blessed with the heavenly beings.
Then the exceedingly marvelous heights of the tower of Babylon,
And how quickly in time it was turned to ashes.
Next, what venerable Abraham accomplished in his life,
Who can be called the father of the ancient faith.
Then Lot, and the two brothers, one of whom is Jacob
And the other is Esau; fame holds their names.
And the twice six Patriarchs in number, and the life of Dinah,
Not lesser in life, modesty, nor piety.
The varied fortunes of Joseph, who knew how to explain dreams;
Hence he alone was a source of hatred to his brothers.
The deeds of the leader Moses, courage also worthy of telling;
How severe the anger of Pharaoh against the race of the Israelites.
And because the Lord's mercy was finally offended by pride,
It is believed He imposed many plagues upon him.
Add that from heaven (marvelous to say) God Himself
Sent Manna to the nation of the Israelites.
And that by the command of God, while heading to ancestral lands,
It went free through the waters of the Red Sea.
And what were the deeds of Joshua, leader of the Israelites,
And the battles waged by the strong hand of Jephthah.
The history of excellent David, and the harsh wars
Of Saul, who recently became prey to the Philistines.
The acts of Queen Athaliah, and of powerful Solomon,
And what sort of men Rehoboam and Jeroboam were.
And how great was Elijah, through whose prayers, they say,
The fifteen ministers of Balaam fell.
And the known miracles of the Prophet Elisha;
How the Persian scepters endured various changes.
And the pious deeds of old man Tobit, the famous acts of Judith,
Who cut off the head of the Assyrian leader with a sword.
The counsel of Esther, the patience of just Job,
Which is able to be a sufficient example for all.
The histories of the twice six Prophets, and the chaste marriage
Of Susanna, who was falsely made an accused woman.
And whatever the Prophet Daniel foretold; Judas [Maccabeus],
Who conquered many generals, not without praise.
Which things we ought to paint in our hearts, O reader,
For the sacred page teaches us all:
The old law is like a concealment of the new law,
And the new law reveals the ancient work.
Here we are able to clearly see not only examples,
Which are to be imitated in our evil times.
But also what things we shall avoid with all zeal,
And what things are to be fled from by all means.
For the well-done deeds of the Fathers are models for us,
To which it is fitting that we arrange our lives.