Lisbon Bible
| Lisbon Bible | |
|---|---|
| British Library Or. 2626 | |
 | |
| Type | Illuminated Hebrew Bible |
| Date | 1482–1483 |
| Place of origin | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Scribe | Shemu’el ben Shemu’el ibn Musa |
| Material | parchment |
| Size | 21 x 14 cm; 3 volumes |
The Lisbon Bible is a illuminated Hebrew manuscript produced in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1482–1483.[1] It is composed of three volumes that contain the complete twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible. The work was written by the scribe Shemu'el ben Shemu'el ibn Musa.[2]
Background
[edit]The Lisbon Bible belongs to a group of richly decorated Jewish Bibles created in the Portuguese capital between 1469 and 1496, in a workshop that appears to have specialized in the production of such manuscripts.[1] Nearly thirty works are associated with this atelier, including around twelve biblical manuscripts and several liturgical Pentateuchs, a genre particularly popular among Portuguese Jews before their expulsion in 1496.[1]
Features
[edit]The Lisbon Bible is considered the most famous and lavish of Jewish Bibles produced in Lisbon in the second half of the 15th century. Like the other Lisbon Bibles, it contains elaborate floral devices marking parashah divisions.[1] More distinctive are its double-framed pages, ornamented with floral, bird, and animal motifs, especially on the opening pages of biblical books.[1][2] The manuscript also features filigree panels, richly colored letters, and extensive use of gold leaf.[1][2]
The decorative program draws on a range of influences, including Mudejar, Italian, Flemish, and Portuguese motifs. In its design, the biblical text sometimes appears as though set within a garden-like background, while in other instances it is displayed as though framed like a work of art.[1]
See also
[edit]Sources
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