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Getty takes ownership of a rare bible

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Getty takes ownership of a rare bible
Getty takes ownership of a rare bible

The Getty Museum is now home to a rare and intact illuminated Bible from Italy.

The Abbey Bible is a illuminated manuscript which means it has that has lavish illustrations throughout its pages and margins. This one has gold-haloed saints, winged angels and fanciful beasts among others.

Getty representatives say it’s unusual for a volume of this quality to turn up on the market any more. The Getty is the world's wealthiest arts institution and does not disclose the price of it's acquisitions.

The Abbey Bible is named for its previous owner who was a collector of rare manuscripts. Before that, the book belonged to a Dominican monastery in the 13th century.

The museum plans to display the bible starting in mid-December as a highlight of an exhibition of Gothic illuminated manuscripts.

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