The Purim Anthology by Goodman Philip;

Author:Goodman, Philip; [Goodman, Philip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8276-1225-9
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 2018-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

IN MEDIEVAL ART

Medieval Jewish book illustration was less politically minded and rather didactic and moralizing in character. In this sense it was related to Christian book illustration of the time, which was likewise set to educate the reader.

Because of this similarity in purpose, a miniature depicting Ahasuerus and Esther in an Ashkenazic Bible, dated 1238 (f. 31), has much in common with a picture in the Hortus Deliciarum (f. 32), the work of a German nun, Herrad of Landsberg, at the end of the twelfth century.3 Both pictures show Ahasuerus sternly pointing to Haman hanging on the gibbet. There are differences of detail, of course, and it is worth noting that Esther in the German manuscript looks mildly interested in the procedure, while in the Hebrew codex she vigorously points to Haman and thus takes an active part in the demonstration of the punishment of the wicked. Perhaps we can see in this difference of behavior a difference in the social position of the woman in the German and Jewish family of the time. It may be due to a different evaluation of Esther’s role on the part of the Jewish artist.

The Jewish picture has another particular feature, this one borrowed from the Midrash. Haman and his sons are hanging on a tree instead of a gallows. Obviously the artist was familiar with the legend about the competition of the trees for the distinction of being used as a gibbet for Haman.4

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