The Iconographical Representation of the Book of Ruth in Medieval Historiated Initials

The Latin text of the Book of Ruth begins with the letter "I" (In diebus unius judicis). The decoration of the initial can include a figure or a scene. The figure could represent Samuel, the author, Elimelech or Ruth, with different meanings. The scene included one of the most significant...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Seijas de los Ríos-Zarzosa, María Guadalupe (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft [2019]
In: Die Bibel in der Kunst
Year: 2019, Volume: 3, Pages: 1-18
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Ruth / Bible (Vulgata) / Initial letter
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:The Latin text of the Book of Ruth begins with the letter "I" (In diebus unius judicis). The decoration of the initial can include a figure or a scene. The figure could represent Samuel, the author, Elimelech or Ruth, with different meanings. The scene included one of the most significant episodes of the story, which allowed the reader to recognize and recall the main events. Due to the long and narrow shape of this letter, medieval illuminators frequently represented several scenes, each one on a different register. This paper will focus on the variety of visual readings of this iconographical cycle depending on the chosen scenes. Two concerns are of special relevance. First, the question as to what extent the iconographic representation remained faithful to the text; whether there were variants and if these were significant or not. Second, the interpretation that the reader made of the images that he or she contemplated.
Contains:Enthalten in: Die Bibel in der Kunst