Golden Haggadah

Golden Haggadah

The Golden Haggadah is a Sephardic Hebrew manuscript originating from the region of Catalonia ca. 1320-30, which was then appended with additional folios during the 17th century that are adorned in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Its name derives from its gorgeous gold leaf backgrounds with imprinted diamond patterns that adorn the 56 magnificent miniatures illustrating events from the books of Genesis and Exodus in addition to depicting the Seder as it was practiced in medieval Spain. The text consists of a copy of the liturgy used during the Seder service of Passover that guides participants through the ritualized meals. This manuscript is the earliest example of an illustrated Spanish Haggadah containing a complete image cycle from Genesis and Exodus, in addition to being a splendid work of art in its own right.

The Golden Miniatures

Although the style of the art is distinctly Gothic, elements of Romanesque and Islamic art can also be found, a nod to the multicultural nature of Spanish society in the 14th century. Nonetheless, the artists appear to have been inspired by such splendid manuscripts are the Morgan Crusader Bible and Psalter of St. Louis. Each page has four miniatures, which should be viewed in a particular order starting with the top right picture, followed by the top left image, then the lower right image, and lastly, the lower left miniature. Blue frames with arabesque patterns surround the miniatures. Nearly three centuries after the manuscript was first created, it travelled to Italy where an additional 15 folios were added in the early 17th century, which includes additional illustrations in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The first section of the manuscript depicts events ranging from Adam naming the animals to the song of Miriam. Second, the steps taken during the preparations for celebrating Passover are illustrated, including a depiction of a dragon drinking wine in addition to other important objects like the matzah and bitter herbs. Finally, a selection of 100 Passover piyyutim liturgical poems is presented with decorative initial panels.

A Mysterious Masterpiece

Neither the identity of the scribes and illuminators nor that of the original owner are known and the first few centuries of the manuscript’s existence are a mystery aside from the fact that researchers have been able to deduce that work originated in Catalonia ca. 1320-30. There is also evidence that it is the work of two hands: one artist using standardized faces but working in a graceful manner with a balanced color palette, and a second artist distinguished by a more coarse but energetic style. 101 leaves of fine vellum were used to create the manuscript, indicating a wealthy and discerning patron. The manuscript was likely taken to Italy in 1492 when the Spanish Jewry was faced with the choice of conversion or banishment. The earliest record of ownership comes in a note dated to 1602 indicating that it was given as a wedding present to the daughter of Rabbi Joav Gallico of Asti, including a page with the Gallico coat of arms. The Golden Haggadah eventually found its way into the possession of Joseph Almanzi (1801-60), an Italian Jewish bibliophile and poet, and was acquired in 1865 along with the rest of his collection by the British Library, where it remains today.