Biblia Pauperum

[ bib-lee-ah pou-pe-room, bib-lee-uh paw-per-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of the picture books illustrating Biblical events and usually containing a short text, used chiefly in the Middle Ages for purposes of religious instruction.

< New Latin: literally, Bible of poor men

They are of the Biblia pauperum type, and are surprisingly like big translucent woodcuts.

The other five lancets are of the Biblia pauperum type, teaching dogma to the people.

The Biblia Pauperum is on paper, as paper was cheaper than vellum and considered quite good enough for the purpose.

Our illustration gives a reduced representation of a page from the second edition of the Biblia Pauperum, dating from about 1450.

Ansgarius, St., supposed to have been the compiler of the Biblia Pauperum, 94.

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