Img. ID: 261237

An arcade composed by architectonic elements detached one from the other, occupies the three-quarters of  the right text column, enclosing the text אנא ה' הושיעה נא/ אנא ה' הצליחה נא, below the arch, in small square script, “מסכת אבות", in larger square script, and " אשר פירש הרב המובהק / רבינו משה בן מיימון / ז'צ'ל'"  הקדמת ר' / שמואל בן / תבון ז'ל' “, between the spandrels and the columns of the arcade.  

The arcade is composed of two columns resting on trapezoidal bases and ending with diagonally-cut capitals, above which are two suspended medallions, surmounted by spandrels above which is the round arch, inscribed within a square frame. Each part of the arcade is decorated with different foliate and geometrical patterns in sepia, red, yellow and off-white ink: opened acanthus leaves in heart-shaped scrolls run within the arc, twisted scrolls decorate the frame, running scrolls of small opened acanthus decorate the left column, while scrolls of profile leaves run within the right column; yellow and grayish and sepia checkered motifs decorate the bases of the columns and the spandrels; a circle formed by four stylized palmettos for the medallions hanging above the columns.

The first paragraph of Tibbon’s preface to “Maimonides’ Eight Chapters” is emphasized with a “P”-shaped pen-work chapter sign in pink ink on the right part of the word “This” זאת, extending along the text column. The chapter sign is outlined with a blue line from which extend tendrils and flourishes, lines of pearl, buds tinted in yellow and thorns.