The Wiedmann Bible - Art Edition Black

The Stuttgart artist Willy Wiedmann left behind an extraordinary work: In 3,333 images, he created the only complete hand-painted depiction of the Old and New Testaments. In its original form, the Wiedmann Bible is a continuous leporello with a total length of over one kilometer. The artwork is now being published for the first time in book form in three exquisitely designed editions. The images are supplemented by comments from the artist and selected Bible verses from the new Luther Bible 2017. Wiedmann's dream was to make the Bible accessible to all people – regardless of what language they speak or whether they can read. From 1984 to 2000, he worked on his magnum opus in the style of polycon painting. Unfortunately, Willy Wiedmann was unable to publish his work during his lifetime; for years it had been hidden in the attic. It was only after his death that his son Martin Wiedmann discovered the legendary estate. The ART Edition in black is released in a limited and numbered edition of 3,000 copies. The two linen-bound volumes in a black decorative slipcase are finished with gold embossing and gilt edges

More about the author and contributors:

Wilhelm Richard Heinrich (Willy) Wiedmann, born in Ettlingen in 1929, was multi-talented. He was a painter, sculptor, musician, composer, writer, and gallerist. After studying music at the State University of Music Stuttgart, he studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts there. He exhibited under various pseudonyms in national and international galleries. His musical skills included instruments as diverse as the flute, violin, and church organ. With the double bass, he accompanied world stars such as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. For decades, Wiedmann ran a gallery in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, which has now reopened under the name "Galerie Wiedmann". However, Wiedmann's passion was church painting; he designed four churches, including the Pauluskirche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and the Martinskirche in Wildberg/Black Forest. His desire to create something new and unprecedented led to the world's only Bible illustrated entirely by one artist. For his social commitment in the field of art and culture, Willy Wiedmann received the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon in 2002. Wiedmann died in 2013 in Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart.

Martin Wiedmann is the son of the artist Willy Wiedmann. He worked for an international bank for about 40 years. During this time, he hardly dealt with art. When he discovered his father's Bible work in 2014, he nevertheless decided to dedicate his life to the artist's estate. He founded Wiedmann Media AG, which is solely dedicated to publicizing and distributing the Wiedmann Bible. Together with his family, who support him in the "Wiedmann Bible" project, he lives in Lachen, Switzerland.

Martin Luther was born in Eisleben in 1483, the son of Hans and Margarethe Luder, where he grew up in modest prosperity. From 1501, he studied in Erfurt. After completing his basic academic education, he began studying law until he decided to become a monk. In 1505, he entered the Order of Augustinian Eremites in Erfurt. He was ordained a priest in 1507 and finally began studying theology. Until his death in 1546, he was a professor of theology in Wittenberg. In addition to reforms in the church, school, and social systems, the Bible translation is Luther's main work, with which he significantly influenced the German language.

Manfred Rieker, born 1939, lives in Stuttgart. After training as a typesetter, he worked in the advertising industry and has long been one of the most renowned photographers and photo designers. He made a name for himself primarily through his advertising shots in the automotive industry and received numerous international awards.

Text by the German Bible Society