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Lot Essay
Blockbooks, of which the Biblia Pauperum were the most common, were mainly produced during a relatively short, transitional period in the middle of the 15th century. The text and the images were cut into and printed from a single woodblock, a technique soon to be superseded by Gutenberg's invention of movable type and it's swift dissemination across Europe.
Several theories exist as to the precise use and audience of the so-called 'pauper's bibles' (biblia pauperum). Although certainly not created for the illiterate poor, the illustrations in these bibles are clearly given importance over the text and one can assume that these books served for the visualisation of the biblical stories for less educated clergy and laymen.
Several theories exist as to the precise use and audience of the so-called 'pauper's bibles' (biblia pauperum). Although certainly not created for the illiterate poor, the illustrations in these bibles are clearly given importance over the text and one can assume that these books served for the visualisation of the biblical stories for less educated clergy and laymen.