Sacred Leaves Manuscript Collection
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Exodus, and the Beginning of Leviticus, Recto
Unknown
Exodus tells a miraculous story of the redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and their wanderings in the desert, led by Moses. It concludes with Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Leviticus, which describes different priestly duties and rituals, follows the Book of Exodus.
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Bible A, Leaf with the end of Exodus, and the beginning of Leviticus, Verso
Unknown
Exodus tells a miraculous story of the redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and their wanderings in the desert, led by Moses. It concludes with Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Leviticus, which describes different priestly duties and rituals, follows the Book of Exodus.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Galatians and the Prologue to and Beginning of the Epistles of St. Paul to the Ephesians
Unknown
This leaf contains chapters five and six of the Book of Galatians before the illumination of Paul, which opens the Book of Ephesians. The prologue to the epistle opens with a rinceauz initial "E." Just below, Paul is figured seated with his sword in an initial "P."
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of I Corinthians, and the Prologue to Beginning of II Corinthians
Unknown
I Corinthians and II Corinthians are two of the epistles of the apostle Paul. In this Bible, the epistle is preceded by a prologue indicated with a decorated initial containing a hybrid figure. A figure initial inhabited by Paul opens the text of the letter. The bald, bearded apostle holds a sword, the instrument of his martyrdom.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of II Corinthians
Unknown
The second book of Corinthians, teaches of the virtue and charitable necessity of forgiveness and penance.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of II Timothy and Titus
Unknown
Titus was one of Paul's proteges whom he had left behind during one of his missionary voyages in order to nurture the church he had started on Crete. He instructs Titus on completing the organization of the church and combating false teachers. The letter includes doctrine as well as instructions for Christian living emphasizing that the two are intimately related.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Jeremiah
Unknown
The Book of Jeremiah prophesizes that Jerusalem will fall because its people were not exclusively devoted to one God.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Jerome's Prologue to Daniel, and the Beginning of Daniel
Unknown
The Book of Daniel is introduced with a historiated initial containing an image from the narrative of Daniel in the den of lions. God's protection of Daniel is shown in the illuminator with Daniel in the pit, embracing two light-lipped, rather docile lions. A dragon peeks around the edge of the initial towards the viewer.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Luke, and a Prologue to and Beginning of the Gospel of John
Unknown
The Gospel of John describes the life of Jesus from the time of his baptism by John the Baptist to his passion and resurrection. The leaf includes two fine examples of illuminations common to thirteenth century Bibles. In the left column, delineating the beginning of the prologue to the Gospel, the reader encounters a decorated initial "H" which includes a hybridized red fox intertwined through the arch of the letter. The right column of the text block incorporates an inhabited initial "I" depicting a haloed John as the Evangelist, with an eagle at his feet and a tower above his head.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Prologue to, and the Beginning of Luke, Recto
Unknown
Luke, the third Gospel Book in the New Testament, presents the works and teachings of Jesus from his birth until his ascension into heaven. The letter "F" encases Zacharias, who is introduced almost instantly in the text, as a priest in the Jewish temple. Here he is shown putting incense on God's altar.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of Prologue to, and the Beginning of Luke, Verso
Unknown
Luke, the third Gospel Book in the New Testament, presents the works and teachings of Jesus from his birth until his ascension into heaven. The Book of Luke concentrates on the poor, women, and children, who were often neglected in their contemporary society, but given special concern by Jesus.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
Unknown
The ending of Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
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Bible A, Leaf with the End of the Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians, and the Prologue to and Beginning of the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy
Unknown
While the Second Epistle of Paul to Thessalonians deals with the crises and problems of the post-Pauline Christian communities, the Epistole to Timothy presents Timothy, Paul's follower and disciple, as an ideal church leader in sharp contrast to the corrupt lives and words of the teachers of other schools in Ephesus. A foliate "T" opens the prologue. Paul is seated with his sword in the opening initial to the Epistle.
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Bible A, Leaf with the Prologue to and Beginning of the Epistle to the Philippians
Unknown
A dragon-snake lurks in the incipit to the prologue. Paul with a sword, this traditional attribute, is seated in the opening initial to the Epistle.
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Bible A, Leaf with the Prologue to and Beginning of the Prophesy of Ezekiel
Unknown
The leaf begins the Prophesy of Ezekiel. A decorated initial "E" begins the prologue. The historiated initial "E," depicting Ezekiel sleeping with the vision of the four heads of the beasts above him, begins the incipit. The inclusion of halos above each beast's head points to Christian interpretation of the animals of the tetramorph as the four evangelists.
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Bible B, Leaf with Part of a Prologue to and the Beginning of Job, Recto
Unknown
The Book of Job tells us of a pious man by the name of Job, who became the subject of debate between Satan and God. In the tale, God allows Satan to tempt and torture Job in every way, provided that Satan was not allowed to kill Job. The depiction of Job historiated initial "V" on the recto of this leaf is one of the most touching scenes within the exhibition. Inside the initial "V," Job is wrapped in a blanket, his skin covered in boils. His wife looks after him, her hand over her heart. The scene is impassioned, and shows the love between Job and his wife before Satan takes her from him.
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Bible B, Leaf with Part of a Prologue to and the Beginning of Job, Verso
Unknown
The Book of Job tells us of a pious man by the name of Job, who became the subject of debate between Satan and God. In the tale, God allows Satan to tempt and torture Job in every way, provided that Satan was not allowed to kill Job.
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Bible B, Leaf with Psalms 26 (27) through 32 (33), Recto
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The Psalms (the term comes from the Greek word for songs) were understood in the Middle Ages as being written by King David. They carry an overall theme of a direct and personal relation with God. The Psalm 26 (27) on the recto, for example emphasizes the trust in the Lord because the Lord is the light, the strength, the refuge, and the protector of life: "The Lord is My light, whom shall I fear."
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Bible B, Leaf with Psalms 26 (27) through 32 (33), Verso
Unknown
The Psalms (the term comes from the Greek word for songs) were understood in the Middle Ages as being written by King David. They carry an overall theme of a direct and personal relation with God.
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Bible B, Leaf with the End of the First Epistle and the Beginning of the Second Epistle of Peter, Recto
Unknown
The Second Epistle of Peter is a testament in which Peter desires to be remembered for his Christian teachings. The epistle also stresses the significance of the grace of God while emphasizing the need for individual and collective moral effort in order to attain final salvation.
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Bible B, Leaf with the End of the First Epistle and the Beginning of the Second Epistle of Peter, Verso
Unknown
The Second Epistle of Peter is a testament in which Peter desires to be remembered for his Christian teachings. The epistle also stresses the significance of the grace of God while emphasizing the need for individual and collective moral effort in order to attain final salvation.
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Bible B, Leaf with Two prologues to Maccabees and the Beginning of I Maccabees, Recto
Unknown
Maccabees consists of two books. The title derives from the nickname given to Judas, which as "Macabeos." He was the leader of the revolt against the Seleucid Dynasty that imposed Hellenistic religious laws upon the Jews. The Book of Maccabees contains the history of the events during the Hellenistic period leading up to the revolt.
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Bible B, Leaf with Two prologues to Maccabees and the Beginning of I Maccabees, Verso
Unknown
Maccabees consists of two books. The title derives from the nickname given to Judas, which as "Macabeos." He was the leader of the revolt against the Seleucid Dynasty that imposed Hellenistic religious laws upon the Jews. The Book of Maccabees contains the history of the events during the Hellenistic period leading up to the revolt.
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Bible C, Leaf with Job, Chapters 25-29, Recto
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The Book of Job explores human suffering and the necessity of faith. In Chapters 25 through 29, Job laments the loss of his blessed past. Line two of Chapter 29 stresses his feelings: "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me."
