Scroll of the Book of Esther

Moses Pescarol

1616

Moses ben Abraham Pescarol’s illuminated scroll of Esther, completed in Ferrara, constitutes one of the oldest and most unusual examples of illustrated manuscripts of this biblical book, which is chanted on the festival of Purim. This scroll was made for Mordechai ben Elijah Halevi of Brescello, near Parma. It is written in Italian square script, with colorful illustrations depicting various scenes from the tale. This image depicts Mordechai, the guardian of Esther in the Purim scroll, being led through the street on a horse, as a mark of honor.

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Credits

The National Library of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel Ms. Heb. 197/89=4.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Manuscript scroll page with Hebrew text and decorated border with illustrations of cherubs, faces, animals, ribbons, and flowers.
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