Obj. ID: 38394
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts Istituto Campana Gaster II-Related Esther Scroll, Italy, 18th century
The ornamentation of the scroll is strongly related to the group of partly engraved scrolls Gaster II (see "Related objects") - the main part of the pattern is the same but some illustrations differ. The decoration consists of a series of arcades, under which the text of the Megillah is inscribed. The text panels are separated by columns whose bases are decorated with flowers. These floral bases separate figurative scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther. The upper margins feature a balustrade on top of which cartouches are painted that are flanked by pairs of birds (either two roosters or a turkey and a rooster). These decorations are separated by flower-filled vases atop each column. The manuscript lacks its opening section and the last membrane is not preserved either.
Above text columns nos. 1-7, מגלת אסתר - "Megilat Esther" is inscribed.
Some details in the scroll are painted gold.
The illustrations in the scroll are not an exact copy of these illustrating the scrolls representing Gaster II type.
sub-set tree:
A | Arch
C | Columns
I | Illustration
B | Bird
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
F | Flower
O | Ornamentation: | Cartouche
O | Ornamentation: | Main text framed
|
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) 250x510 mm, 2) 260x480 mm, 3) 260x595 mm.
Dimensions of sheets nos. 2 and 3 that are sewn together: 260x1075 mm.
The scroll is incomplete; it lacks the text from Es. 1:1-Es. 1:12 and from 8:12 until the end of the book.
The first sheet is separated from the remaining two sheets of the scroll.
The first membrane, particularly its upper margin, is preserved in very poor condition. Also, the illustrations painted on it are seriously damaged.
The edges of the second membrane are frayed.
Some parts of the text are erased.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The preserved part of the scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing a total of 13 columns of text with 22 lines each.
The number of columns per sheet: no. 1 - 4 columns, no. 2 - 4 columns, no. 3 - 5 columns.
The text is written in Hebrew square Italian script in black ink by two different hands.
The text and decorations are on the flesh side of the parchments.
There are numerous elongated letters in the text.
The membranes in the scroll are stitched together, but the first sheet is separated from the two remaining sheets that are sewn together.
None
No bibliography on the scroll is available.