Luther Psalter
Wittenberg (Germany) — 1513–1515
The oldest document of Martin Luther’s groundbreaking exegesis of the Bible and the first printed text by the Reformer: the basis of Luther’s psalm lecture, annotated with extensive glosses in his own hand.
The so-called Luther Psalter is not only the earliest printed Luther text ever, but also the foundation of his first psalm lecture, which Martin Luther (1483–1546) gave at the University of Wittenberg from 1513 to 1515. In keeping with humanist tradition, he had a Latin psalter printed for the visitors to this lecture on June 8, 1513, in Johann Rhau-Grunenberg’s workshop in Wittenberg. The working text was provided with particularly large line spacing and short summaries of the individual psalms. It is also noteworthy that Luther unusually has Jesus Christ appear as a speaker in the preface, presenting quotations from the Old and New Testaments in direct speech. Luther supplemented his own copy, which is now kept in the Herzog August Library, with countless glosses, some of which are more extensive than the psalm text itself. They are an invaluable testimony to the theology, biblical interpretation, and teaching activities of the important German reformer.
Codicology
Alternative Titles
Wolfenbütteler Psalter
Sepher Thehillim
Hoc est Liber Laudum sive Hymnorum qui Psalterium David dicitur
Size / Format
220 pages / 22.0 × 16.0 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
1513–1515
Epochs
Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style
Renaissance
Genre
Psalters
Language
Latin
Illustrations
6 portraits subsequently pasted in: copperplate engraving of a medallion portrait of Luther, copperplate engraving of Melanchthon, woodcut of Luther as a monk and a pen-and-ink drawing of this portrait, colored bust portrait of a theologian, probably Tilemannus Heshusius
Content
Printed book of psalms with extensive interlinear and marginal glosses by Martin Luther in preparation for his lecture on the psalms
Artist / School
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Previous Owners
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Jakob Probst (1486–1562)
Tilemann Heshusen (1527–1588)
Hans von Hildesheim
Eilhard Segebade (gest. 1602)
Duke Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1579–1666)
