I think I'm correct when I say that buying a Bible is a personal thing. Publishers seem to pump them out at a rapid pace. Its easy to get overwhelmed or perhaps underwhelmed at the quantity of choices. You look and look in catalogs or online often not knowing what you're even searching for. All you know is your searching for a Bible. Well, let's take a look at Crossway's new ESV Illuminated Bible, Art Journaling Edition Bible and see if its right for you.
No doubt, its a beautiful book. The artwork by Dana Tanamachi is simply outstanding. Gorgeous to the eye, well bound, 9.0 point font, cream paper. It is just a delight. From Crossway's website we get the stats
- 9-point, Lexicon
- Black letter text
- 2-color printing
- 64 full-page, custom book opener illustrations
- 50 full-page verse illustrations
- 250+ hand-lettered margin verses
- 100+ other illustrations throughout
- Illustrated by Dana Tanamachi, whose work has been featured by Google, The Wall Street Journal, Random House, USPS, and Target
- Thick, cream-colored paper
- Wide margins
- Single-column, paragraph format
- Smyth-sewn binding
And from the introduction
We believe that the Word of God is a treasure to be read, memorized, internalized, and shared. The ESV Illuminated Bible, Art Journaling Edition was created to continue in this historic tradition of illuminated manuscripts. Our prayer is that the added ornamentation and illustrations will draw the reader's eyes to the beauty of the Word of God itself, stirring up affection for the Creator and inviting deep reflection on the narrative and truths of Scripture.
This is certainly a Bible where you can spend some time engaging with the artwork , perhaps doing more of your own in the wide margins, writing notes, or prayers.
Drawbacks? Maybe a few. I’m not an artsy kind of guy but one observation is the artwork seems that it would appeal more to a female demographic than to the male. Just my dos centavos. I'm also not inclined to believe that it is in the tradition of illuminated manuscripts except perhaps in a very modern sense. It certainly doesn't remind me of the Book of Kells or the Lindisfarne Gospels. Again, just my two cents.
Overall, its a lovely Bible. Well made and appealing to the eye.
Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
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