Table Of ContentOdonatologica20(1):75-78 March I.1991
Paintingsof Zygopterain the GutenbergBibleof 1453
R.Rudolph
BiologieDidaktik,University ofMünster, Fliednerstrasse 21, D-4400Münster,
FederalRepublicofGermany
Received November 23, 1990 / AcceptedNovember29, 1990
A copy ofthe very first book printed in Europe,the GutenbergBible of1453,
preserved in the Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin,containsfour
colouredpaintingsofcoenagrioniddamselflies andoneofazygopterouslarva.These
aredescribed and their position within the volumeofunnumbered pagesis men-
tioned. They represent the oldest known EuropeanpaintingsofOdonata.
INTRODUCTION
InEurope books were manuscripts and multiplied only by handwriting until
about 1450,when the first attempts of Johannes Gutenberg of Mainzto use
leaden types for composing printing blocks had turned out to be technically
promisingand,ontheotherhand,hadyieldedanoteworthyprofittotheChurch.
By orderofthe Church, Gutenberg had printed tickets ofindulgence ineditions
ofmany thousands (RUPPEL, 1980).
Theveryfirst bookprintedby thismethodwasabible,produced by Johannes
Gutenberg by theend of 1453inan editionofprobably 180copies, as we learn
fromacontemporaryrecensionby a highranking clergyman (CORSTEN, 1979;
MEUTHEN, 1982;KOENIG, 1983). This bible comprises 1282 unnumbered
pagesmeasuring about41x30cm.
Medieval incunabula and manuscripts were delivered to the purchaser
unboundand in plain condition, to which coloured initialsas well as other
decorations could be added by an illuminatoraccording to the purchaser’s
individualtaste. In consequence, the 48copies known today ofthe Gutenberg
Bibledifferdistinctly intheirilluminations. Thecopypreserved inthe Staatsbi-
bliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin under thecatalogue numberINC
1511 is consideredthe most profusely decoratedone, having been illuminated
76 R. Rudolph
1456in a wellknown workshop inSaxony (SCHMIDT, 1980).
Inview ofDrB.F.Belyshev’sprofoundinterest inthehistoryofodonatology,Iampleasedtobe
abletocontribute thisnotetothis Tribute Issue.
DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION
Apart fromtherichlygiltinitials, whichinmanycases depicthumanfiguresin
the letters’outlines, the floridilluminationofthis copy consistsof polychrome
floral ornaments and edgings, liana-like fantastic plants twining betweenthe
columns, and of deeply hued blossoms, among which roses and columbines
prevail. Added to these floralelements areanimals.
Many times the illuminationsofvarious copies of the Gutenberg Biblehave
beenreflected uponfromviewpointsofartistryandaesthetics(see bibliography
in KOENIG, 1983), butnoneoftheworks listedby Koenig haspointed outthat
theGutenberg Bibleof Berlinis noteworthy forthelarge numberofrealistically
painted birds of both European and exotic origin which are included in its
illumination.Thespecies caneasily bedetermined.Monkeysareclimbingamong
the lianas onsix pages. Only afewinsects are depicted, yet the artist’sspecial
liking for Odonata is obvious. There are just three tiny flies and one small
butterfly inthewholevolume,whilefourpagesarebeautifiedwithdamselfliesof
naturalor, inonecase, nearlynaturalsize. From theirrealisticblue colourand
darkabdominalmarking theyareclearly identifiedascoenagrionid species. Even
pseudopupils are painted to theireyes. Slightly prolonged antennae give their
headsasomewhatneuropteroidappearance. This, however,isacommonfeature
ofearly Odonataillustrations.
Twoofthedamselfliesaresettledonaleafwithwings neatly clapped together,
whileintwootherstheopened andsomewhatblurredwingswiththeirmultiplied
contours give theimpression offlight.Pterostigmata aswellas reflectionsonthe
wing surfaceand, in one case, afew dark markings add to therealisticappear-
ance. Even wing nervature is subtly indicated.
Azygopterous larva, measuring 1.6cmwithitsappendices, was revealedonly
by thorough inspectionamongthe tendrils. Theposition ofthepaintings within
the volumeis described here by quoting thebeginnings oftheLatin textofthe
respective pages:
(1)"Hec sulnoiafiliarisrl. ..” Second Book Moses: Exodus
(2) "Beatusvir qui..Psalms: Psalm I (Fig. I)
(3)"Parabole salomonis. .. Proverbs ofSolomon: Chapter 1
(4) "Matheus exiudea. ..”, GospelaccordingtoSt. Matthew
(5) Larva: "Dixitdeus. ..”, Psalms: Psalm 110
This bible, with itsilluminationdating from 1456,contains theoldest known
European paintings ofOdonata.ThreemoreillustrationsofOdonatainmedieval
manuscripts havealreadybeen described.An AeshnaisillustratedintheItalian
"Breviario Grimani"dating from 1495-1500(PICHETTI, 1949).Anotherprayer
Zygopterain theGutenberg Bible 77
Fig. 1. A damselflypaintingin theBerlin copy oftheGutenberg Bible (1453).
book, the"Livred’Heuresd'AnnedeBretagne", datingfromabout 1500,holdsa
dragonfly illustration(FRAIN, 1989),and Calopteryxspecies areillustratedina
Portuguese handwritten book dating from the period 1508-1532(AGUIAR,
1983). Inthis context one shouldalso mentionthe dragonfly ona stone relief
fromItaly, datedbetween 1450and 1500(CONCI, 1979),andalsotheOdonata
engravings on sealstones from the Late Bronze Age ofCrete, ca. 1500B.C.
(YOUNGER, 1983).
AnothercopyoftheGutenberg Bibleis preserved intheHuntingdon Library
and ArtGalleryinSanMarino, California.AccordingtoSCHMIDT(1980)this
copyhasbeenilluminatedalong withthecopyfromBerlininthesameSaxonian
workshop. It mightbeworthwiletoinspect alsothiscopyforOdonatapaintings.
REFERENCES
AGUIAR, S., 1983, Aslibelulas da Leitura Nova. Armas eTrofeus(V) 1 [1981]:3-5.
CONCI, C., 1979. La piü antica figurazione scultorea di una libellula. Natura. Milano 70(4):
242-246.
CORSTEN, S., 1979.Die Drucklegungder ZweiundvierzigzeiligenBibel.Technische undchrono-
logische Probleme. In: W. Schmidt, & F.A. Schmidt-Künsemüller, [Eds], Johannes
GutenbergsZweiundvierzigzeilige Bibel,pp, 33-67. Idion,München.
FRAIN, I., 1989. Bibliothequenationale: les tresors sauves del’autodafe en 1789, Paris Match
2085: 80-90.
KOENIG, E., 1983. Die illuminierten Seiten derGutenberg Bibel. Harenberg,Dortmund.
MEUTHEN,E., 1982. EinfrühesQuellenzeugnisfürdenältestenBuchdruck derWelt.In:[Anon.],
Gutenberg-Jahrbuch1982,pp. 108-118. Idion, München.
78 R. Rudolph
RUPPEL, A., 1980. Persdnlichkeit undWerk vonJohannes Gutenberg.In:[Anon,], Johannes
Gutenberg.Die ZweiundvierzigzeiligeBibel,pp. 3-9,Idion, Miinchen.
SCHMIDT,W., 1980. DieZweiundvierzigzeiligeGutenbergBibelin Berlin.In:[Anon.],Johannes
Gutenberg. Die ZweiundvierzigzeiligeBibel,pp. 11-13. Idion, Miinchen.
YOUNGER, J.G., 1983.AegeansealsoftheLateBronze Age:masters andworkshops.II.Thefirst-
-generationMinoan masters. Kadmos 22: 109-136.
