Treasures from the Austrian National Library

Treasures from the Austrian National Library

Formerly the Imperial Library, the Austrian National Library is one of the finest institutions of its kind in the world, with collections exceeding 12 million items. It was established in 1368 by Duke Albert III of Austria (1349–95), who moved his collections from a vault into a library where his scribes could begin translating Latin manuscripts. Its collections were added to by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III (1415–93) with great works like the Wenceslas Bible and a magnificent illuminated manuscript of the Golden Bull, both created ca. 1400. The marriage of Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519) to Mary of Burgundy (1457–82) brought with it a dowry that included many books from the rich Duchy Burgundy, which once stretched across eastern and northern France to the Netherlands. Emperor Maximilian II (1527–76) appointed Hugo Blotius (1533–1608) to be the first head librarian in 1575. The library was further appended in 1737 by the collection of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736), who was equally a great warrior and patron of the arts; his collection added 15,000+ volumes including many Italian and French works. Housed in a magnificent wing of the Hofburg in the center of Vienna, this collection’s repository is a monument to its incredible collections, including some of the finest illuminated manuscripts in the world.
These ten specimens represent some of the highlights of this incredible manuscript collection:
1. Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar
Vienna Genesis, 6th century

1. Christ’s Arrest
   Black Prayer Book of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Flanders, ca. 1466–1476

2. Michael’s Battle with the Dragon
   Book of Hours, Avignon, ca. 1400

3. The Last Judgement
   Bohun Psalter, London (?) ca. 1330/60

4. The Legend of Luke
   Evangeliary of Johannes von Troppau, 1368

5. John and Procheros
   Athos Evangeliary, 12th century

6. Initial Page “TE” to the Canon Missae
   Fragment of a Carolingian Sacramentary, ca. 860

7. Adoration of the Magi, Baptism of Christ
   Antiphonary of Saint Peter, Salzburg, ca. 1160

8. God as Architect of the World
   Bible moralisée, France, ca. 1220

9. Instructing Maximilian
   Textbook for Emperor Maximilian, Vienna, ca. 1470