Ashburnham Pentateuch
Encyclopedia
The Ashburnham Pentateuch (Paris, Bibl. Nat. MS nouv. acq. lat. 2334, also known as the Tours Pentateuch) is a late 6th or early 7th century Latin illuminated manuscript
of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament
). Although it originally contained all five books of the Pentateuch, it is now missing the whole of Deuteronomy
as well as sections of the other five books.
It has 142 folios and 19 miniatures, and measures 372mm by 321mm. It is thought to have originally included as many as 68 full page miniatures. A full page table containing the Latin names of the books and Latin transliterations of the Hebrew
names serves as a front piece to Genesis. The table is enclosed within a curtained arch. Some of the full page miniatures, such as that containing the miniature of Noah's Ark
(folio 9r), contain a single scene. Other full page miniatures, such as that telling the story of Cain and Abel
(see illustration), contain many scenes which are placed in a register, with each scene having a different color background.
The origin of this manuscript
is uncertain. Although it has been described by some scholars as Spanish
, it may have come from North Africa
, Syria
or Italy
.
The manuscript was at the National Library at Tours before being stolen in 1842 and sold to Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham in 1847. Since 1888, it has been housed at the National Library of France in Paris.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
). Although it originally contained all five books of the Pentateuch, it is now missing the whole of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
as well as sections of the other five books.
It has 142 folios and 19 miniatures, and measures 372mm by 321mm. It is thought to have originally included as many as 68 full page miniatures. A full page table containing the Latin names of the books and Latin transliterations of the Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
names serves as a front piece to Genesis. The table is enclosed within a curtained arch. Some of the full page miniatures, such as that containing the miniature of Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
(folio 9r), contain a single scene. Other full page miniatures, such as that telling the story of Cain and Abel
Cain and Abel
In the Hebrew Bible, Cain and Abel are two sons of Adam and Eve. The Qur'an mentions the story, calling them the two sons of Adam only....
(see illustration), contain many scenes which are placed in a register, with each scene having a different color background.
The origin of this manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
is uncertain. Although it has been described by some scholars as Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, it may have come from North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
or Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The manuscript was at the National Library at Tours before being stolen in 1842 and sold to Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham in 1847. Since 1888, it has been housed at the National Library of France in Paris.
Further reading
- Verkerk, Dorothy. Early Medieval Bible Illumination and the Ashburnham Pentateuch. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Verkerk, Dorothy. "Exodus and Easter Vigil in the Ashburnham Pentateuch," Art Bulletin LXXVII/1 (1995): 94-105.