Washington, DC

The entrance to the private Museum of the Bible conveys the mission of the institution in an artful concept that contributes to the understanding of the most important book in Western history.

The inspiration for the bronze entry portal is the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg, Mainz, German, to produce the Bible. The first book ever printed. The edition was released in the early 1400’s. Gutenberg worked to recreate the beauty of the hand written bibles. It was written in Latin in a typeface based upon hand calligraphy.

This invention is considered one of the most consequential in history. It gave rise to the mass production of written materials, increased the ability to read among the lower and middle classes, changed education, politics and religion.

The monumental doors are made from 3” thick German Brass. It is a recreation the printing plate from the Gutenberg press of page one of Genesis. This means the letters are in reverse, ready to be inked, paper applied, run through the pressing process to create the first of hundreds of pages required to be bound into the book.

The entry vestibule to the Museum of the Bible is defined by a free-standing art glass window made up of 16 panels. One of the oldest artifacts belonging to the Museum is one fragment of Bodmer Papyri.

This ancient Greek text is the 19th Psalm. It has been recreated in the art glass by a combination of glass printing, overpainting, and engraving. The papyrus plant is a reed that grows on marshy areas of the Nile River. The inside of the stalk was peeled and cut into long strips. Strips were laid side by side. There are two layers—one horizontal and one vertical. Wetted down they are then pressed and dried to make a papyrus sheet.

The Bodmer Papyri were found in 1952 in Egypt near the ancient headquarters of an order of Monks. There are some fifty texts in all, suggesting it was part of the monk’s library. It includes religious texts as well as the Iliad by Homer and Greek comedies of Menander.

This particular leaf contains the 19th Psalm from the old testament. It begins: "The Heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work… There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard" and ends with "O LORD, my strength and my redeemer." Engraved on the front face of each of the 16 art glass panels is a translation of the 19th Psalm in a different language selected by MOTB Curators: Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Ge’ez, Coptic, Swahili, Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, and Korean.

Photography by Craig Collins.

Materials & Dimensions

Bronze Doors: 40’ x 16’ x 3” and 40’ x 12’ x 3”. Made by Zahner of Kansas City, Missouri. Glass Vestibule: The panes are four high and four across, making up 16 vertical panels, 32’ tall by 13’5”. Made by Mayer of Munich Glass.