id: 135736 accession number: 1959.272 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.272 updated: 2023-03-09 12:48:12.089000 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 Cleveland Museum of Art, The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund 1959.272 title: Bifolium from a Bible: Initial E[t factum est] with Ezekiel title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1290 creation date earliest: 1285 creation date latest: 1295 current location: creditline: The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund copyright: --- culture: France, Paris, 13th century technique: ink, tempera, and gold on vellum department: Medieval Art collection: MED - Manuscript Illuminations type: Manuscript find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Sheet: 40.3 x 53.7 cm (15 7/8 x 21 1/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Scriptorium: The Illuminated Book in Medieval Art opening date: 1991-11-05T05:00:00 Scriptorium: The Illuminated Book in Medieval Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1991-February 2, 1992). title: The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art opening date: 1993-09-25T04:00:00 The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993). title: Illuminated Manuscripts opening date: 2004-10-10T00:00:00 Illuminated Manuscripts. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 10, 2004-October 2, 2005). title: The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection opening date: 2010-11-06T00:00:00 The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011). title: Devotion and Leaning in the Middle Ages- (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115 opening date: 2017-12-04T05:00:00 Devotion and Leaning in the Middle Ages- (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * 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" --- PROVENANCE Mrs. Otto F. Ege, Cleveland, OH, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?-1959 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1959- footnotes: citations: --- 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. digital description: wall 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. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.272/1959.272_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.272/1959.272_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.272/1959.272_full.tif