DECEMBER 4, 2015 – APRIL 24, 2016
The Biggs Museum of American Art is exceptionally proud to be a rare American host of Illuminating the Word, The Saint John’s Bible. This international exhibition features 70 pages of The Saint John’s Bible, the first monumental hand-illuminated bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in over 500 years. Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned the enormous art project of an entire hand-painted bible: every word, every illustration, every image, from one of the best-known contemporary scribes and illuminators in the world, Donald Jackson. The artist’s team worked for almost fifteen years to adorn each vellum page of The Saint John’s Bible in the manner that medieval monks created bibles before the invention of the printing press: quill and ink. These inspiring accomplishments will be accompanied by a display of tools, materials and artists’ drafts used in the Bible’s creation along with other examples of historical illuminated books and manuscripts from the collection of Saint John’s University and private collectors. The exhibition will be accompanied by several educational tours, lectures and artist workshops for all skill levels honoring the ancient traditions of book arts. Learn more.