Illuminated Manuscript Leaf: Opening of Exodus (c. 1250)
“there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph”
LEAF FROM A 13TH CENTURY BIBLE CONTAINING THE OPENING OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS-FEATURING A HISTORIATED INITIAL.
Illuminated manuscript leaf on vellum from a Bible in Latin Featuring Historiated Initial. Northern France, likely Paris, c. 1250. Double column, 45 lines, written in a fine Gothic script in dark brown ink. Running title EXO in alternating red and blue letters.
One historiated initial H ("Haec"), marking the beginning of the Book of Exodus, is formed in blue and rose, heightened with white tracery, with long, delicate extensions in blue, pink, and gold extending into the intercolumn and margins. Within the initial, two figures approach a richly dressed figure wearing an orange-gold headdress beneath a Gothic arch. The scene probably represents Jacob and his sons before Joseph in Egypt, visually illustrating the opening verses of Exodus, which recount the arrival of Jacob's household in Egypt, where Joseph was already established.
The miniature is painted in deep blue, rose, green, gray, orange-yellow, and gold. The faces and hands have darkened, probably through the chemical alteration of lead-white pigment originally used in the flesh tones. Smaller initials in alternating red and blue have contrasting penwork extensions; rubrics are in red.
The text includes the end of Genesis, chapters 48-50, and the beginning of Exodus, 1:1-10.
The text in Latin beginning with the historiated "H":
Haec sunt nomina filiorum Israel qui ingressi sunt in Aegyptum cum Iacob: singuli cum domibus suis introierunt: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Iuda, Issachar et Zabulon, et Benjamin, Dan et Nephthali, Gad et Aser. Erant igitur omnes animae eorum qui egressi sunt de femore Iacob septuaginta: Ioseph autem erat in Aegypto. Quo mortuo et universis fratribus eius, omnique cognatione illa, filii Israel creverunt, et quasi germinantes multiplicati sunt, ac roborati nimis, impleverunt terram. Surrexit interea rex novus super Aegyptum, qui ignorabat Ioseph: et ait ad populum suum: Ecce, populus filiorum Israel multus et fortior nobis est. Venite, sapienter opprimamus eum, ne forte multiplicetur: et si ingruerit contra nos bellum, addatur inimicis...
English translation:
These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, the children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. In the meantime there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we. Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.
The passage forms the narrative bridge between Genesis and Exodus: Jacob's family has settled in Egypt under Joseph's protection, but the accession of a new king who "knew not Joseph" prepares the way for the enslavement of the Israelites and the eventual rise of Moses.
Compact, single-volume Bibles of this type were widely produced during the 13th century for clerical, scholarly, preaching, and private use.
Size: 124 x 84 mm (4.9 x 3.3 inches)
Written Area: 96 x 64 mm (3.8 x 2.5 inches)
Minor discoloration to inner margin that does not affect the text or the initial. General light ceiling. A striking and textually significant leaf, beautifully marking the transition from Genesis to Exodus.
Price: $2,200 .