The manuscript that we want to highlight for you is the Morgan Libraray's Bible. It is also known as
the Morgan Picture Bible, the Maciejowski Bible or the Shah "Abbas Bible". The book is and Old
Testament that was originally made with only miniatures to tell the stories. Later,inscriptions in
Latin, Persian and Judeo-Persian were added.
According to the Morgan Library, it is not only one of the most awesome and beautiful manuscripts
of French Gothic illumination.
2 Samuel 18:9- And Absalom met the servants of David.And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the
mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was
taken up between the heaven and the earth; and th mule that was under him went away.
2 Samuel 18:9
This manuscript was, for some time, associated with the French King Louis IX and his Seventh
Crusade (1244-1254). Unfortunately, there is no clear and definitive evidence to support the claim
that this manuscript was owned or commissioned by the King. The proof is only circumstantial.
The Crusader Bible was possibly made in Paris, but for certain in Northern France. Even in 13th
century this would have been an extremely valuable book and very expensive to have made.
So, in any case, the patron of this work was from high society in France ( I. The manuscript the
Biblical kings are wearing crusade armor with the French Royal fleur-de-lis on it). The work was
created as a folio-manuscript with only minatures. This would have been no problem for most
readers in those times; they knew the Bible so well that they would recognise the scenes right
away. However, the Crusader Bible does not cover the entire Bible, only parts of the books of
Genisis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Samuel.
When it was made, there were 48 leaves in the book. Most of them (43) are now in the Morgan
Library, two you can find in the Bibliotheque National de France, one in the J. Paul Getty Museum
and two are unfortunately missing.
According to the Morgan Library, the scenes what were painted in the manuscript depict famous
Biblical event. But, most of all, the battles are portrayed in a very gruesome, yet super, detailed
way. So detailed that the machines of war can be replicated from the miniatures only!
Al of this, of course, painted in a landscape and costume of 13th-century France.
About 40% of the Crusader Bilble was painted by one master, the rest by at least 4 other people.
It remains a great mystery who they were and no other works by their hands are known at this point
of time.
Just this month a new exhibition titled "The Crusader Bible: A Gothic Masterpiece" was opened
In the Morgan Library. For those, like us, are to far away to visit it, you can 'see their online Exhibition."
It's an interesting read, especially how the manuscript travelled all over the world in the last centuries!
Or you can browse the digitised manuscript and enjoy all its beauty.
For more info--
https://https%253a%252f%252fwww.google.co.uk%252f/amp/s/sexycodicology.net/blog/crusader-bible-morgan-library/amp/
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Bible
