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Washington Haggadah

Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)

Germany — January 29, 1478

German and Italian traditions combined in a golden Haggadah: a masterpiece by the renowned itinerant book artist Joel ben Simeon as a valuable testimony to cultural exchange and everyday Jewish culture

  1. Joel ben Simeon (c. 1420 – c. 1492) from Cologne worked as a itinerant book artist in the German-speaking area and northern Italy

  2. He primarily calligraphed and illuminated elaborate Haggadot, in which he combined artistic traditions from both regions

  3. The 15 marginal illuminations mainly depict ritual acts associated with the Seder and offer valuable insights into everyday Jewish culture around 1478

Washington Haggadah

MS Hebr. 181 Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
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  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
Washington Haggadah

The Washington Haggadah is one of the most lavishly illuminated Haggadot to have survived to this day. The Ashkenazi manuscript is the work of the gifted Cologne book artist Joel ben Simeon (c. 1420 – c. 1492), who specialized in Haggadot and was active throughout the German-speaking area, but also spent much of his career in northern Italy. He was not only responsible for the artistic writing of the texts for the Seder, but also for the wonderful, gold-decorated illumination, which is second to none. It combines traditional Ashkenazi, i.e. Central and Eastern European Haggadah iconography with artistic elements of the Italian tradition. During his travels in Italy, Joel ben Simeon also adopted the fine drawing style typical of the Early Renaissance. Thus, the Washington Haggadah is a valuable testimony to the lively cultural exchange in the Late Middle Ages, to which its itinerant master actively contributed as a intermediary. Furthermore, the numerous illuminations of ritual acts, with their detailed depictions of clothing, food, and other everyday objects, provide a fascinating insight into Jewish life in Ashkenaz around 1478.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Washingtoner Haggadah
Size / Format
76 pages / 22.5 × 15.5 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
January 29, 1478
Language
Hebrew
Script
Ashkenazic Square Script
Illustrations
10 splendid headpieces, 15 marginalia, numerous fleuronnée initials
Content
Texts for the ritual of Passover Seder
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Provenzali family
Ephraim Deinard
Available facsimile editions:
Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
#1 The Washington Haggadah
Library of Congress – Washington, 1991
Limited Edition: 550 copies
Washington Haggadah – Harvard University Press – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
#2 The Washington Haggadah
Harvard University Press – Cambridge, 2011
Facsimile Editions

#1 The Washington Haggadah

Library of Congress – Washington, 1991
Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
Washington Haggadah – Library of Congress – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Library of Congress – Washington, 1991
Limited Edition: 550 copies
Commentary: 1 volume by Myron M. Weinstein, Bezalel Narcissi, Beit-Arié Malachi, Mordechai Glatzer, and Doris A. Hamburg
Language: English
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
Inquire current price here or ask a different question

#2 The Washington Haggadah

Harvard University Press – Cambridge, 2011
Washington Haggadah – Harvard University Press – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA)
Washington Haggadah – Harvard University Press – MS Hebr. 181 – Library of Congress (Washington, USA) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Harvard University Press – Cambridge, 2011
Binding: Softcover
Commentary: 1 volume (248 pp.) by Katrin Kogman-Appel and David Stern
Language: English
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