Manuscript Cutting thumbnail 1
Manuscript Cutting thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 8, The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery

Manuscript Cutting

ca. 1160 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This double-sided manuscript leaf depicts scenes from the first book of the Bible: Genesis. One side shows scenes from the story of Cain and Abel. The other shows King Melchisedek blessing Abraham and Abraham’s nephew Lot being captured.

It was a medieval custom to interpret the Old Testament as a prefiguration of the New. Each major New Testament subject was seen as having several forerunners or ‘types’ in the Old Testament. Cain murdering Abel was often interpreted as a forerunner of Christ’s betrayal by Judas, while Melchisedek giving Abraham bread and wine was widely accepted as prefiguring the Eucharist.

This particular manuscript leaf may have come from a Bible or Psalter (book of Psalms), or an artist’s Model Book. Another fragment thought to be from the same manuscript is located in Liège University (Wittert Coll.) and a group of similar leaves is found in Berlin (Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Kupferstichkabinet, inv. No. 78 A 6).

The leaf was purchased by the V&A in 1883 for £2.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
watercolour, with egg or gum binding medium and gold leaf on vellum
Brief description
Double-sided folio from a Bible, Psalter or model-book depicting Cain and Abel on one side and Melchisedek blessing Abraham and the capture of Lot on the other; ca.1160; Southern Netherlands (possibly Liège); watercolour and gold leaf on vellum.
Physical description
One side shows Cain and Abel offering up sacrifices to God at the top of the page and Cain killing Abel at the bottom. The other side shows Melchisedek blessing Abraham at the top of the page and the capture of Lot at the bottom.
Dimensions
  • At highest height: 22.7cm
  • At widest width: 15.9cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Gallery label
LEAF FROM A BIBLE, PSALTER OR MODEL BOOK About 1160 Adam and Eve had two sons: Abel, who kept sheep, and Cain, who grew crops. Cain famously murdered his brother in a fit of jealously. The story, illustrated here, was thought to prefigure the New Testament combat between the new church (in the person of Christ) and the old religion (represented by the Synagogue). Southern Netherlands, possibly Liège region Watercolour on parchment Museum no. 8982(2009)
Object history
Part of cuttings purchased in batches from William Henry James Weale in 1883, 95 on 9 April 1883, 258 on 17 April 1883, 20 on 20 February, for the total sum of £96.7.2 (now Museum nos 8972-9042).
Historical context
Many twelfth century Psalters and Bibles included an introductory cycle of miniatures. These often incorporated scenes from the Book of Genesis. It was a medieval custom to interpret the Old Testament as a prefiguration of the New. Each major New Testament subject was seen as having several forerunners or ‘types’ in the Old Testament - Cain and Abel sacrificing was seen as symbolising the Synagogue and the Church; Cain murdering Abel was seen as a forerunner of Christ’s betrayal by Judas; and Melchisedek giving Abraham bread and wine was widely accepted as prefiguring the Eucharist.

Data taken from notes compiled by Rowan Watson. The full text of the entry is as follows:

Cat. no. 137
8982 (MS 413)
BIBLE?
Leaf with a full-page miniature on each side: Sacrifice of Cain and Abel, and the killing of Abel; Melchisedek blessing Abraham and the capture of Lot. Possibly from a model-book

NL (Liège). c. 1160
230 x 160 mm.
Pub: 1923 cat, 35 (given as German c. 1200) ; ` Medieval Treasury' (1986), pp 142-3 col. pl. 11'
Subjects depicted
Literary references
  • Holy Bible, Genesis, chapter 4, verses 1-9 (Cain and Abel)
  • Holy Bible, Genesis, chapter 14, verse 12 (capture of Lot)
  • Holy Bible, Genesis, chapter 14, verses 18-20 (Melchisedek and Abraham)
Summary
This double-sided manuscript leaf depicts scenes from the first book of the Bible: Genesis. One side shows scenes from the story of Cain and Abel. The other shows King Melchisedek blessing Abraham and Abraham’s nephew Lot being captured.

It was a medieval custom to interpret the Old Testament as a prefiguration of the New. Each major New Testament subject was seen as having several forerunners or ‘types’ in the Old Testament. Cain murdering Abel was often interpreted as a forerunner of Christ’s betrayal by Judas, while Melchisedek giving Abraham bread and wine was widely accepted as prefiguring the Eucharist.

This particular manuscript leaf may have come from a Bible or Psalter (book of Psalms), or an artist’s Model Book. Another fragment thought to be from the same manuscript is located in Liège University (Wittert Coll.) and a group of similar leaves is found in Berlin (Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Kupferstichkabinet, inv. No. 78 A 6).

The leaf was purchased by the V&A in 1883 for £2.
Bibliographic references
  • The Medieval Treasury - The Art of the Middle Ages in the Victoria and Albert Museum, edited by Paul Williamson, London, 1986, pp.142-143 and fig.11
  • Exemplum - Model-Book Drawings and the Practice of Artistic Transmission in the Middle Ages (ca. 900 - ca. 1450), by Robert W. Scheller, Amsterdam, 1995, pp.123-131
Other number
MS 413 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
8982

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 3, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest