Introduction

Hello, I am Colin B. Bailey, Director of the Morgan Library, and I would like to welcome you to Morgan’s Bibles: Splendor in Scripture. Throughout its long history, scripture has served as a source of faith, an object of reverence, and a transformative force in shaping languages and cultures.

John Pierpont Morgan fully recognized the significance of the printed word and held a passion for collecting Bibles. Acquiring important versions and editions of the Bible from different periods, his collection reflected both his personal religious convictions as well as his lifelong interest in history and the arts. Morgan possessed a keen appreciation for artistic brilliance in all its forms. As you walk through this exhibition, you will encounter extraordinary masterpieces produced in a wide array of formats from a range of artistic schools and traditions. While many of the objects—like the Lindau Gospels and the Golden Gospels of Henry VIII—reflect the opulence of grand religious expression, others, like the Biblia pauperum, shed light on how the gospel spread to reach increasingly larger populations over time.

As you move through the gallery, look for the audio symbols to discover commentary by the exhibition’s curators as well as related examples of music and short readings. We hope that as you explore this exhibition, you will gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of the Bible on many different aspects of world history. Enjoy your journey through the beautiful tapestry woven by faith, artistry, and the enduring power of the written word.