Special Exhibitions

The Lisbon Bible

The original Lisbon Bible manuscript has been housed in the British Library collection since 1882.

The sumptuous decorations were created by a team of skilled artists. Completed in 1482, the Lisbon Bible is a testimony to the rich cultural life the Portuguese Jews experienced prior to the expulsion and forced conversions of 1496. The 15th century was the Golden Age of Iberian Jewry, and the Lisbon Bible is considered one of the finest examples of Jewish illumination and calligraphy produced during this flourishing period. This is the first manuscript to display the elaborate ornamental technique used in the Lisbon studios. The bible is decorated in a rich array of colors and burnished gold. The intricate filigree of the drawings and border decorations includes a number of motifs: plants, trees, flowers, peacocks, owls, and dragons.

This three-volume Hebrew Bible is one of the most accomplished creations of the Lisbon school of Hebrew illumination. Its exquisite frontispieces and finely wrought miniatures were executed in brilliant colors and enhanced in gold leaf. The manuscript was copied by Samuel, son of Samuel Ibn Musa, for Joseph son of Judah surnamed al-Hakim, and was completed in 1482.

View the Lisbon Bible online: Lisbon Bible (PDF). Pages turn right to left. Requires a standard broadband connection of 125 kbps or above.

Size: 30.1 × 45.3 cm
Medium: Ink and pigments on vellum
Rights: British Library
Date: 1482 CE