The Library has just published the catalog Dresden: Treasures from the Saxon State Library, edited by Margrit B. Krewson, the Library's German/Dutch area specialist.
The catalog accompanies the exhibition of the same name, which opens in the Library's Jefferson Building on April 11. The exhibition is the last in a series of displays of treasures from the world's major libraries.
This catalog is an introduction to the rich literary, musical and religious history of Dresden collections and libraries, now incorporated into the holdings of the Saxon State Library (Sachsische Landesbibliothek).
The first of five essays written by the professional staff of the Saxon State Library begins with a history of the library from its beginnings in 1556, as a court library, to its current role as the state library of Saxony and one of the preeminent libraries in Germany. This overview traces the growth of the collections and the library's relocation to various prominent buildings in the city. It relates the library's fortunes to the changing economic and political environment in Saxony.
The second essay provides a review of the history of Saxony, with particular emphasis on the ruling family of Wettin and the political and cultural ambitions of its ruling members. As the power and prestige of the family grew, Saxony became a major center of political influence and cultural achievement. Consequently, the state played a critical role in central Europe in the power struggles among Prussia, Austria and the Catholic and Protestant churches.
The third essay explains the origin and role of the Protestant Reformation in Saxony. It was in Saxony that Martin Luther expressed his opposition to the Catholic Church and eventually translated the Bible into German. His actions began the Protestant Reformation - Saxony's most important contribution to world history.
Another essay discusses the role of Dresden in developing literature during the Romantic period at the beginning of the 19th century. The "Romantic School" was born in Dresden in 1798, when the Schlegel brothers, Novalis and Friedrich Schilling gathered in the city they considered the "Florence of the North."
The final essay describes the rich musical heritage of Saxony, much of which is preserved in the Saxon State Library. This musical heritage, which developed in both Leipzig and Dresden, focused not only on sacred music, but also on works for the Court Orchestra and Opera.
Also included in the catalog are 40 illustrations of some of the more than 180 items displayed in the exhibition. Particularly noteworthy are the 13th-century Hebrew manuscript Holy Day Prayer Book for the Whole Year, a testimony to German Jewry of the Middle Ages; Maria Sibylla Merian's Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam, published in 1705 after the author's two-year stay in the jungles of Surinam; Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B Minor: Kyrie and Gloria, composed in 1717; and the first Bible in German, translatedfrom the Latin by Martin Luther in 1534 and considered one of his greatest accomplishments.
In the appendix is a short list of all 185 items, in the order in which they appear in the exhibition. A bibliography of references in English and German will guide those who wish to explore further the themes of the catalog and the exhibition.
The catalog will be available for purchase in the Library of Congress Sales Shop for $19.95.
