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© Istituto Campana per l’Istruzione Permanente, Photographer: N/A, -, Negative/Photo. No. M003122.
Name/Title
Istituto Campana Gaster II-Related Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
col. 8 and sheet 3 (cols. 9-13)
Date
18th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Unknown |
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Gaster II scrolls|
{"210":"The family of Italian Esther scrolls from the second half of the 17th century named by Mendel Metzger after Judaica collector, Moses Gaster (1856–1939), of whose collections an exemplar of this manuscript formed a part (see M. Metzger, “The Earliest Engraved Italian Megilloth”, Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 48:2 (1966), 381\u2012432, esp. 390). It includes Esther scrolls produced in mixed technique in which decorative border is partly printed and colored by hand while the Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is inscribed by a scribe. Main part of the decorations consists of a series of arcades, under which the text of the Book of Esther was inscribed. The text panels are interspersed by columns whose bases are decorated with flowers that separate rectangular frames with figurative scenes chronicling the Book of Esther. Upper margins are filled with a balustrade on which are placed flower-filled vases and pairs of roosters and turkeys. These details are present in all exemplars of the scrolls, however, particular manuscripts differ in detail. The decorative scheme of Gaster II scrolls shows common features with Griselini scrolls."}
Period
Period Detail
Collection
Category
Material/Technique
Ink and paints on parchment
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 250-260 x ca. 1585 mm.
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.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

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.

Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Description

Sheet no. 2

Illustration 8 depicts Mordecai standing at the gate and receiving clothes from Hatach (Es. 4:4). On the right, a building is visible.

Sheet no. 3

The decorative scheme surrounding columns of text nos. 9-13 contains arcades that support a balustrade located in the upper margin with pairs of birds flanking the cartouches above each arch. Flower-filled vases atop each column separate these decorative illuminations. The lower margin is filled with figurative scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther:

Illustration 9 on the right, King Ahasuerus sits on a canopied throne. He extends his royal scepter to the crowned Esther, who kneels before him and touches the tip of the scepter. Esther is accompanied by three maid-servants (Es. 5:2-3). 

Illustration 10 depicts the first banquet given by Esther (Es. 5:5). Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman sit at a round feast table; the king sits on the canopied throne.

Illustration 11 includes two depictions. On the right, stands the gallows prepared by Haman for Mordecai (Es. 5:14). On the left, Ahasuerus reclines on his bed while a man stands before him reading possibly from an open book (Es. 6:1).

Illustration 12 depicts Mordecai rides a horse while Haman walks before him and blows a trumpet (Es. 6:11). The scene of the triumph of Mordecai is supplemented by the depiction of Haman's daughter who, from a window above, empties a chamber pot on her father's head (based on Megillah 16a).

Illustration 13 contains three depictions. On the right, the second banquet given by Esther is shown (Es. 7:1). The queen sits at a round laid table and is accompanied by both Ahasuerus, who sits on the canopied throne, and Haman. In the central part, Haman is prostrated on the floor before Esther and is begging for his life, while Ahasuerus returns from the palace gardens (Es. 7:7-8). On the left, the king stands in the palace garden with a scepter in his hand and talks to another man, possibly Harbonah who suggests hanging Haman on the gallows he had once prepared for Mordecai (Es. 7:9).

Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew

Codicology

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.

Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Signature
Colophon

None

Scribal Notes
Watermark
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

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.

History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

No bibliography on the scroll is available.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Researcher
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
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