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:
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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:
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CREATORS
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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:
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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).
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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"
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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:
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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.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
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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