Hebrew Bible: Unicorns and Other Creatures (fols. 440v-441)
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.This bible concludes with a compendium of Hebrew grammar, where some of the most inventive decoration in the book resides. Each double-page spread of the supplementary text provided the artist, Joseph the Frenchman, with an opportunity to experiment with elaborate framing devices. This particularly fanciful example depicts not only apes and goats playing musical instruments but also unicorns and harpies cavorting in the brightly colored margins.
Artwork Details
- Title: Hebrew Bible: Unicorns and Other Creatures (fols. 440v-441)
- Artist: Illuminated by Joseph the Frenchman
- Date: 1299–1300
- Geography: Made in Spain
- Medium: Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment
- Dimensions: Overall: 11 7/16 x 8 7/8 x 3 15/16 in., 9.464lb. (29 x 22.5 x 10 cm, 4.293kg)
- Classification: Manuscripts and Illuminations
- Credit Line: Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, Lisbon (BNP, IL.72)
- Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters