The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 23, 2023

Bifolium from a Bible: Initial E[t factum est] with Ezekiel

c. 1290

France, Paris, 13th century

Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum

Sheet: 40.3 x 53.7 cm (15 7/8 x 21 1/8 in.)

The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund 1959.272

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

This bifolium was likely once part of a Carthusian Bible; the initials in the margin are part of a unique reading system used by Carthusian monks.

Description

This large initial E on the left page introduces the Book of Ezekiel. The prophet is represented in the midst of his apocalyptic visions. Ezekiel's call to prophecy began as a vision showing God enthroned among four creatures, each with four wings and the face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle, respectively. These apocalyptic beasts recur in the Book of Revelation and were developed by the medieval Church into symbols of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Since medieval manuscripts were not paginated, this large initial provided a clear visual cue for the reader to help locate the text of Ezekiel within the manuscript.

Provenance
?-1959
Mrs. Otto F. Ege, Cleveland, OH, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
1959-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Exhibition history

The Cleveland Museum of Art (10/10/2004 - 10/02/2005); "Illuminated Manuscripts"

Cleveland Museum of Art, (11/06/2010 - 04/17/2011); "The Glory Of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collections"

Scriptorium: The Illuminated Book in Medieval Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1991-February 2, 1992).

The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993).

Illuminated Manuscripts. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 10, 2004-October 2, 2005).

The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011).

Devotion and Leaning in the Middle Ages- (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1959.272