The Dark Mark: BnF Héb. 20 and the Borders of Bible Illumination

This paper concerns an enigmatic mark found in BnF Héb. 20—an early fourteenth-century Bible codex associated with the workshop of scribe, masorete, and painter Joshua Ibn Gaon. The dull black ovoid shape (on folio 194v) precedes the Bible portion that recounts the events leading up to King David�...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Manuscript studies (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2023-09, Vol.8 (2), p.185-217
Main Author: Harris, Julie A
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper concerns an enigmatic mark found in BnF Héb. 20—an early fourteenth-century Bible codex associated with the workshop of scribe, masorete, and painter Joshua Ibn Gaon. The dull black ovoid shape (on folio 194v) precedes the Bible portion that recounts the events leading up to King David's death (1 Kings 1). It is interesting for its divergence from the codex's extensive pericope marks (which likely served as aids to Bible use and memorization) and from its marginal decoration, which has been presented as a nascent example of Bible illumination in manuscripts made for Iberian Jews. Here, the mark, which is placed above the chapter within the confines of the text column, may be understood as "commenting" on David's complicated life as well as heralding his imminent demise. My paper suggests that the mark was originally silver and represents a contemporary mirror, making it an early example of a late medieval iconography linking mirrors and death. This reading underscores the intimate relationship between a patron/viewer and his Hebrew Bible codex.
ISSN:2381-5329
2380-1190
2381-5329
DOI:10.1353/mns.2023.a916128