This year, exactly 600 years have passed since the creation of the so-called Lipnice Bible. In celebration of its monumental anniversary, this remarkable medieval manuscript was on an exceptional display in the National Library of the Czech Republic. The Lipnice Bible, written in Latin, belongs among more expensive late-medieval codices. It is a quiet witness to the chaos during the Hussite wars. In most probability, it was created, at least partly, at the castle in Lipnice nad Sázavou, owned then by Čeněk of Vartemberk, one of the most powerful men of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Other destinies of the manuscript, which brought it beyond the borders of the Czech lands, are covered in the veil of secrecy. The Lipnice Bible appeared again in the 20th century, when it was in possession of different West European collectors to get finally, in the beginning of the 21st century, to the collections of the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, United States. Nowadays, the 600th anniversary of its completion gave a unique opportunity to present this medieval monument to wider international audience.
For this purpose, the Manuscriptorium Digital Library Department at the National Library of the Czech Republic has converted the exhibition The Lipnice Bible 1421–2021: A Shield of Faith for Turbulent Times into virtual format. Therefore, even though the physical exhibition has already been concluded, you can visit its virtual version anytime in the Manuscriptorium.
The exhibition has been prepared by a research team lead by Lucie Doležalová and Karel Pacovský from the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, and converted into virtual format by Michael Lužný and Anna Pavlíková from the Manuscriptorium Department, National Library of the Czech Republic.
For further information on the Manuscriptorium Digital Library see: http://www.manuscriptorium.com/en