Quedlinburg Itala

The surviving fragments of this ancient Latin biblical manuscript are housed in the Berlin State Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin). They were originally discovered bound into other books in Quedlinburg. These pieces represent one of the earliest known examples of illustrated biblical texts from late antiquity.

The manuscript specifically preserves portions of the Books of Samuel. The text is written in Latin and is accompanied by early Christian illustrations. It provides valuable insight into how biblical narratives were visually represented during the fourth or early fifth century.

Art historians value the Quedlinburg Itala because it is one of the very few extant illustrated manuscripts from late antiquity. It contains unique painted scenes alongside instructions to the artists, revealing early workshop practices. The fragments predate many other well-known illuminated manuscripts by centuries.

Yes, remarkably, the manuscript includes written instructions directed at the artists painting the scenes. These directions guided the illustrators on exactly how to depict the biblical narratives from the Books of Samuel. This makes it an incredibly rare historical artifact for understanding the production of early manuscripts.