Golden Haggadah (The Plagues of Egypt, Scenes of Liberation, and Preparation for Passover)
Late medieval Spain. c. 1320 C.E. Illuminated manuscript (pigment and gold leaf on vellum)
The book was for use of a wealthy Jewish family. The holy text is written on vellum - a kind of fine calfskin parchment - in Hebrew script, reading from right to left. Its stunning miniatures illustrate stories from the biblical books of 'Genesis' and 'Exodus' and scenes of Jewish ritual.
Form
- Illuminated manuscript
- Gold lead of vellum
- Each image has a golden background
- Resembles Christian gothic
o Long flowing bodies
o Small architectural details
- Painted in the Barcelona area of Spain
- 56 miniatures using gold leaf background
Function
- Depict the story of Passover to be read at seder
- Used mostly at home
- Show the wealth of its owner
- Stands as a testament to the impact and signifigance of jewish culture in medieval spain
o The rich multicultural atmosphere that produced such a magnificent manuscript
Content
- Haggadah = narration
- The story of Passover
o Miraculous salvation from slavery
o Told at seder
Context
- Late Romanesque / Gothic Period
o Christianity and how Christianity facilitates power is the emphasis now
o Art was often didactic
- Jewish Art
o Jewish people often patroned work as the Christians and Muslims during this time
o Jewish patrons would often use Christain painters to decorate important sacrad books
- It was forbidden to create images at this time
o Skeptical of who made is, thought to might have been a Christain
o It was justified by being didactic
Cross Cultural Connections
1. Rubens, Henry IV Receives the portrait of Marie de Medici
2. Lawrence, The Migration of the Negro, Panel no. 49
3. Giotto, Lamentation from the Arena Chapel
