Select manuscript from this collection: B26  K99 K103  S102  73/107

Country of Location:
Country of Location
Switzerland
Location:
Location
Zürich
Library / Collection:
Library / Collection
Braginsky Collection
Shelfmark:
Shelfmark
K101
Manuscript Title:
Manuscript Title
Ketubbah (כתובה)
Caption:
Caption
Parchment · 1 f. · 82.4 x 55.4 cm · Livorno · 13. Siwan 5506 (1 June 1746)
Language:
Language
Hebrew
Manuscript Summary:
Manuscript Summary
The marriage of Joshua, son of Isaac Hayyim Recanati, and Dona Esther Sarah, daughter of Raphael Recanati, established a union within this widely ramified, wealthy and influential Sephardic family. Written on a document that is painted with illusionistic effect, the actual text of the ketubbah is in the right column and the conditions are in the left column. These are surrounded by rococo architecture in central perspective, with the family emblem at the top flanked by two cupids. The name of the groom is honored with a medallion that depicts Joshua commanding the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:12–13). Two female figures hold the ends of a gold ribbon with the inscription “Be fruitful and multiply!” (flu)
DOI (Digital Object Identifier):
DOI (Digital Object Identifier
10.5076/e-codices-bc-k-0101 (http://dx.doi.org/10.5076/e-codices-bc-k-0101)
Permanent link:
Permanent link
https://www.e-codices.ch/en/list/one/bc/k-0101
IIIF Manifest URL:
IIIF Manifest URL
IIIF Drag-n-drop https://www.e-codices.ch/metadata/iiif/bc-k-0101/manifest.json
How to quote:
How to quote
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, K101: Ketubbah (כתובה) (https://www.e-codices.ch/en/list/one/bc/k-0101).
Online Since:
Online Since
10/10/2019
External resources:
External resources
Rights:
Rights
Images:
(Concerning all other rights see each manuscript description and our Terms of use)
Document Type:
Document Type
Document
Century:
Century
18th century
Dated:
Dated
1746
Decoration:
Decoration
Figurative, Full Page, Fully Painted, Ornamental
Liturgica hebraica:
Liturgica hebraica
Ketubbah
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e-codices · 09/09/2019, 14:56:07

The Jewish community of Livorno was founded relatively late. In 1593 Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany issued a favorable charter known as the Livornina, which allowed anusim (those forced to abandon Judaism) who wished to return to Judaism to settle in Livorno and Pisa. They were guaranteed full religious liberty, and even the possibility of receiving Tuscan citizenship. Livorno became the largest Italian town in this period without a walled ghetto. The local Sephardim excelled in business and industry. Ketubbah decoration for members of the prosperous Sephardic community of Livorno reached its height during the eighteenth century.
A talented artist in the field of ketubbah illustration decorated this contract. A Baroque entryway, with a grand balustrade above, frames the two sections of the text: the ketubbah proper at the right, and the conditions at the left. Two massive pilasters are colored with patterns imitating luxurious marble. Unlike the decorations in the ketubbot of most other Italian towns, the architectural forms created by Livornese artists were portrayed with harmonious detail and the illusion of depth.
Two dramatically posed female figures stand on plinths in front of the pilasters. Their hands point toward a gold ribbon that flutters within the architectural frame. The ribbon is inscribed with Genesis 1:27–28, the first commandment to Adam and Eve to be fertile and multiply. Within the ribbon’s folds are cartouches with the twelve Signs of the Zodiac painted in grisaille, which create a trompe l’oeil. The undulating borders around the text enhance the illusionistic effect that it is written on a separate parchment added to the decoration.
Surmounting the marriage contract is a crowned shield with the Recanati family emblem flanked by cupids carrying symbols of love, a bow and arrow, and a burning torch. Another feature personalizing the ketubbah is the careful selection of verses along the border and in the large medallion beneath the shield. Referring to the bridegroom Joshua Recanati, the medallion depicts in grisaille a scene of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, accompanied by the corresponding verses from Joshua 10:12–13 inscribed in gilt letters along the outer ring.

A Journey through Jewish Worlds. Highlights from the Braginsky collection of Hebrew manuscripts and printed books, hrsg. E. M. Cohen, S. L. Mintz, E. G. L. Schrijver, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 172-173.

e-codices · 09/09/2019, 14:55:39

Durch eine ausgeklügelte Heiratspolitik versuchten die wohlhabenden jüdischen Familien, ihre Positionen im Wirtschgsgefüge ebenso wie in der jüdischen Gemeinde u festigen oder weiter auszubauen. Im Fall dieser Ketubba heiratete man innerhalb der weitverzweigten Familie Recanati. Mitgift und Aufgeld werden nicht mit Summen genannt. Es wird lediglich auf einen bürgerlichen Notariatsvertrag verwiesen, der am 28. März 1746 beim öffentlichen Notar Dr. Giovanni Battista Gamera in Florenz hinterlegt wurde.
Ein begabter Künstler schuf das elegante, zentralperspektivisch wiedergegebene Eingangsportal mit den für das Rokoko typischen optischen Verzerrungen. Die plastische Lichtführung verstärkt den Eindruck der Raumtiefe noch. Die vertikalen Elemente des Portals imitieren den beliebten Stuckmarmor. Auf Postamenten vor den Säulenpilastern weisen zwei weibliche Figuren in dramatischer Pose auf ein goldenes Band, auf dem Gottes Auftrag an Adam und Eva eingeschrieben ist. «Seid fruchtbar und vermehrt Euch!» Das Band windet sich um die Zeichen des Tierkreises, die in Grisailletechnik gemalt sind. Der Vertragstext selbst erschein auf der Ketubba als illusionistisch wiedergegebenes Pergamentblatt.
Das gekrönte Familienemblem der Recanati flankieren zwei Amoretten mit der Fackel der brennenden Liebe sowie Pfeil und Bogen als Liebessymbole. In Anspielung auf den Namen des Bräutigams zeigt die Darstellung im Rundmedaillon, wie Josua befiehlt, den Lauf der Sonne aufzuhalten – dazu in der Umschrift der passende Bibelvers: «Da standen die Sonne und der Mond still, bis dass sich das Volk an seinen Feinden rächte» (Josua 10:12-13).

Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, Hrsg. von Emile Schrijver und Falk Wiesemann, Zürich 2011, S. 180-181.

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Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, Hrsg. von Emile Schrijver und Falk Wiesemann, Zürich 2011, S. 180-181.

A Journey through Jewish Worlds. Highlights from the Braginsky collection of Hebrew manuscripts and printed books, hrsg. E. M. Cohen, S. L. Mintz, E. G. L. Schrijver, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 172-173.

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