Balthasar Behem Codex
Encyclopedia
The Balthasar Behem Codex is a collection of the privileges and statutes of the city of Kraków
. Compiled in 1505, the codex was named for the chancellor at the time, Balthasar Behem. The book's text is in Latin
. It is now held at the library of the Jagiellonian University
of Kraków.
Twenty-Seven illustrations in the codex depict both biblical
subjects and the daily activities of the Kracow burgher guild members, for example that of baker
s, titled in Latin: Pistores, with a subtitle in German: Das ist der briff und geseccze der becker von Krakow. ("This is the letter and law of the bakers in Cracow", example in color), and the text calligraphed in Latin.
This kind of illustration - showing the practice of trades - was a tradition with an iconographical
history going back to late Roman
astronomical
texts showing the "Labours of the Months
", pairing a characteristic activity of rural life with the astrological
sign for that month. Historians of culture and art have shown that these illustrations sometimes reflect their iconographical traditions rather than actually depicting contemporary life with accuracy.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. Compiled in 1505, the codex was named for the chancellor at the time, Balthasar Behem. The book's text is in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. It is now held at the library of the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
of Kraków.
Twenty-Seven illustrations in the codex depict both biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
subjects and the daily activities of the Kracow burgher guild members, for example that of baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
s, titled in Latin: Pistores, with a subtitle in German: Das ist der briff und geseccze der becker von Krakow. ("This is the letter and law of the bakers in Cracow", example in color), and the text calligraphed in Latin.
This kind of illustration - showing the practice of trades - was a tradition with an iconographical
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
history going back to late Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
astronomical
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
texts showing the "Labours of the Months
Labours of the Months
The term Labours of the Months refers to cycles in Medieval and early Renaissance art depicting in twelve scenes the rural activities that commonly took place in the months of the year...
", pairing a characteristic activity of rural life with the astrological
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
sign for that month. Historians of culture and art have shown that these illustrations sometimes reflect their iconographical traditions rather than actually depicting contemporary life with accuracy.
External links
- Austrian Facsimile from 1889: Die alten Zunft- und Verkehr-Ordnungen der Stadt Krakau - Nach Balthasar Behem's Codex Picturatus in der K. K. Jagellonischen Bilbliothek
- Relevant artwork: black and white woodcut by Conrad Celtis (1459–1508) made in 1502 showing four cities of Boemia, i.e.: Croca Vistula, Moguncia Rhenus, Lubecum Sinuscodanus, and Ratispona Danubius from Quatuor libri amorum secundum quatuor latera Germanie. Nürnberg: Sodalitas Celtica, 1502. The series of colated woodcuts by Celtis (18.6 by 9.2 cm (7.3 by 3.6 ) in size) was made in Nürnberg three years before Balthasar Behem Codex was published in Kraków.
- JU Library: Bakers' Guild
- Workshop of a painter
- Crucification
- Pictures
- Stamps