117 



with the requirements of the reformed religion — furnished 

 their countrymen of all classes with hand-books, cxliibiting in 

 the clearest and most accessible form the wonderful dispensa- 

 tions of the Old and New CJovenants. Such were the produc- 

 tions of Solomon Bernard, of Albert Durer, of Luca Cranach, 

 Hans Holbein, the brothers Wicrix, and the De Jodes. From 

 these we may select a couple of beautiful little works, printed 

 at Lyons. The first is entitled Icones Ilisioriarum Veteris 

 Testamentiy with numerous engravings by Hans Holbein, 

 printed A.D. 1538, and reprinted in the following year, with 

 explanations in French Quatrains by Gilles Corrozet. The 

 second, which is equally beautiful, contains small wood cuts 

 by Le Petit Bernard, of all the principal events narrated in 

 the Old and New Testament. Of these the design and execu- 

 tion are both admirable, the artist having imbued even the 

 most minute portions of his work with that grace and elegance 

 which are peculiar to him. Claude Paradin had the merit of 

 getting up this work in 1553, the illustrative verses being in 

 French Quatrains. Under the title of " Quadiins" therefore it 

 passed through two or three editions. It was speedily trans- 

 lated by able hands into the other European languages, and 

 published by De Tournes, the bookseller, at Lyons, by whom 

 the original French was edited. Perfect copies of these pro- 

 ductions are now become extremely rare. The wood blocks 

 make their appearance (though much worn) in one or two 

 impressions of the Vulgate. 



A different style of art is observable in the bible prints put 

 forth (small 4to.) in 1579, by the famous editor and book- 

 seller Feyerabendt at Frankfort-on-the-Mayne. In this the 

 explanations are given in German verse, and the prints them- 

 selves are executed on wood by the two Stinuners and Jost 

 Ammon. 



Three other publications of a very interesting nature were 

 edited by this bookseller. The first is an account of all the 

 ecclesiastical orders of the Roman church — male and female — 



