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IMC 2011: Sessions

Session 1002: The Art of Script(ure): Letters as Visual Signs in Micrography and other Forms of Hebrew Calligraphy

Wednesday 13 July 2011, 09.00-10.30

Sponsor:Centre for Jewish Studies, University of Leeds
Organiser:Eva Frojmovic, Centre for Jewish Studies, University of Leeds
Moderator/Chair:Eva Frojmovic, Centre for Jewish Studies, University of Leeds
Paper 1002-aMicrographic Bibles in Ashkenaz: First Findings and Further Questions
(Language: English)
Rahel Fronda, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford / School of Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
Index terms: Art History - General, Biblical Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Manuscripts and Palaeography
Paper 1002-bThe Living Letters of Scripture
(Language: English)
Annette Weber, Lehrstuhl für Jüdische Kunst, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, Heidelberg
Index terms: Art History - General, Biblical Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Manuscripts and Palaeography
Paper 1002-cDecorative Micrography on the Title Page of Exodus in the Reuchlin Bible
(Language: English)
Zeev Abel, Independent Scholar, Heidelberg
Index terms: Art History - General, Biblical Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Manuscripts and Palaeography
Abstract

The session will present interim results of research carried out by a research group working on the phenomenon of marginal text art since 2009. The Massora figurata is a running concordance gloss to the Hebrew bible text that, during the medieval period, was often copied in the form of micrography, i.e. decorative or figurative shapes formed by miniscule writing. Other commentary texts were also written in this micrographic format, for example in Haggadah manuscripts. Speakers will raise questions surrounding the social and intellectual history of this phenomenon of marginal micrography, which transcended the various geographical sub-groups in Judaism.