Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 29394
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Kupfer , Marcia.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: Abraham Circumcises Himself: A Scene at the Endgame of Jewish Utility to Christian Art
  • Source: Judaism and Christian Art: Aesthetic Anxieties from the Catacombs to Colonialism.  Edited by Herbert L. Kessler and David Nirenberg.  University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011.  Pages 143 - 182.
  • Description: The author analyzes a Castilian translation of a Hebrew Bible manuscript done by Rabbi Moses Arragel and commissioned by Luis de guzman, grand master of the military order of Calatrava. in the commentary and illustrations, Arragel included a subtext intended for his Jewish co-religionists. The text and illustration of Abraham's circumcision carry specific meanings drawn from the Midrash and Zohar while also remaining open to the Christian interpretation expected by Arragel's appointed censors.
  • Article Type: Essay
  • Subject (See Also): Abraham (Biblical Figure) in Art Arragel, Moses, Rabbi, Translator and Glossator of the Alba Bible Art History- Painting Bibles Circumcision in Art jews Manuscripts
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: Iberia
  • Century: 15
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations: Eight figures. Figure One Alba Bible, illus trations of Luis de Guzman sending his letter of commission to Moses Arragel; the rabbi at work between his censors (Madrid, Palacio de Liria, library of the Duke of Alba, cat. no. 399, 1422-31/33, fol. IV). Figure Two Alba Bible, Arragel's presentation of the commissioned manuscript to Luis de Guzman, fol. 25V. Figure Three Alba Bible, Arragel touching the feet of King Juan II of Castile, fol. IIR. Figure Four Alba Bible, Jerusalem attacked by the nations, fol. 368R. Figure Five Alba Bible, Abraham circumcises himself, folio 37R. Figure Six Alba Bible, Joshua leads the assault on Ai, fol. 170R. Figure Seven Bible of Jean de Sy, Abraham circumcises himself (Paris, BnF, MS fr 15397, fol. 22V). Figure Eight Padua Bible, Abraham circumcises himself (Rovigo, Biblioteca dell'Accademia dei Concordi, MS 212, fol. 9V).
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  • Year of Publication: 2011.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 9780812242850