Legends of the Centuries : Looking Through a Legendary Collection; Martin Bodmer Foundation

This book traces the life and work of Martin Bodmer and offers a glimpse into the collection, which traces the intellectual progress of humanity, as represented by some 150 pieces of exceptional quality and rarity. They represent the various domains of Power (History, Politics and Law), Knowledge and Faith (Philosophy, Sciences, Religion) and Art (Poetry, Drama, Music, Novel, Fables and Tales, Children’s Literature). Each caption attempts to answer this simple question: why does this work deserve to be regarded as one of the most beautiful or decisive of all human creations?

The Bibliotheca Bodmeriana of world literature, which Bernard Breslauer regarded as one of the finest libraries of all time, was opened by Martin Bodmer in Cologny on the shores of Lake Geneva on 6 October 1951. It was the work of a lifetime. On 26 February 1971, he gifted it to a private Foundation, acknowledged as of public interest.
His eldest son Daniel Bodmer was its Chairman from 1971 to 1994. An extension to the building was planned in 1999 and construction began the following year. 21 November 2003 saw the birth of a new museum designed and built by the architect Mario Botta. In 2004, Jean Bonna, who is himself a distinguished collector, has become Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.