Manuscript on parchment (trimmed) of Hebrew Scripture. Written for Jacob, son of Rabbi Benjamin of Montalcino
Description:
In Hebrew., Script: Written in cursive Italian Hebrew script, with square initial letters., The extremely fine decoration is in the Florentine style of the third quarter of the 15th century. Two full-page miniatures: f. 2v David beheading Goliath (Psalms) and f. 110v Job on the dunghill, with the three tempters. Miniatures accompanied by elegantly illuminated full borders of pink and blue flowers with green stems and yellow fruit issuing from yellow vases; gold dots and hair-spray. Putti and brightly colored birds appear among foliate ornamentation. Polylobed and circular medallions with miniatures in borders. Other borders, without miniatures, contain medallions of busts of prophets, some holding scrolls. One border f. 30v without medallions. Borders of ff. 30v, 80r, 111r are less carefully executed than rest of illumination and may be by another artist. The opening word of Psalms 42, 73, 90 and 107, as well as of Job and Proverbs, occurs in a panel with foliate borders in burnished gold. First letter in each chapter of Psalms, and first word in each chapter of Job and Proverbs framed in red or blue (one in gold, f. 111r) with purple or red penwork flourishes., and Binding: Seventeenth century. Red calf over beech boards, gold-tooled with a floral border and flower vases and arabesques in the center. Gilt, gauffered edges and woodblock paste paper endleaves and pastedowns.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval and Manuscripts, Medieval
