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Description

Color lithograph.

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : published in 1526. Being the first translation from the Greek into English / by that eminent scholar and martyr, William Tyndale ; reprinted verbatim, with a memoir of his life and writings by George Offor ; together with the proceedings and correspondence of Henry VIII, Sir T. More, and Lord Cromwell

William Tyndale’s New Testament was the first printed in English. His version became the standard style and a major influence on all later English translations. Inspired by Luther’s Reformation principles at a time when the Church in England was still strongly connected to Rome and production or reading of the Bible in English was prohibited, Tyndale was forced to print his Bible abroad. Suspicious of the inclusion of the Lutheran doctrine in Tyndale’s translation, Church authorities saw to it that most of the 50,000 or so copies printed were confiscated and burned. William Tyndale was imprisoned for more than 500 days before he was ultimately strangled and burned at the stake, in 1536.

This 1836 reprint of Tyndale’s New Testament includes an account of his life and martyrdom.

Analysis

This depiction is very different than the others. Here the risen Christ stands on a grassy hill presumably outside of the tomb. In the distance is a view of a city exhibiting Gothic architecture. Two soldiers are shown sleeping. One soldier in the foreground is reacting rather dully, a broken weapon at his side. Christ, wrapped in a bright red cloak, looks directly at the viewer and raises his two first fingers and thumb in a sign of benediction. He holds the Banner of Victory, shown here as a red cross on a white background. This scene depicts a less ethereal, more human Christ.

Rights

Artwork in the public domain.

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