Noah in His Cups, A Monumental Misunderstanding, The Greatest of Tests, Lot Taken Captive
Old Testament Miniatures with Latin, Persian, and Judeo-Persian inscriptions
Purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867–1943) in 1916
Noah in His Cups
Noah, now a farmer, tills the earth and plants a vineyard. Later, his sons find their father drunken from too much wine and are ashamed of his nakedness. Ham stands behind his father, mocking, while his brother Shem, eyes averted, covers Noah with the end of his cloak. (Genesis 9:20–23)
A Monumental Misunderstanding
People of Babel plan to build an enormous city and a tower that will reach to heaven. The Lord is angered by their pride and confuses the speech of men so as to interrupt their plans. The project is abandoned, and the builders scatter to all regions of the earth. The miniature provides an excellent example of the medieval building process. Note the pulley system, driven by a man inside a wooden wheel that functions much like a treadmill. (Genesis 11:3–4)
The Greatest of Tests
The Lord has decided to test Abraham by ordering him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Before Abraham can carry out this order, an angel of the Lord catches the tip of his sword and instructs him to offer a ram in the boy's place. Isaac appears twice in this illustration in a gold tunic, carrying firewood for his own sacrifice and again on the altar. (Genesis 22:9–13)
Lot Taken Captive
The family of Abraham's nephew, Lot, become unfortunate captives in a war between enemy kings. Lot, his wife, and five soldiers are led away by the victors. They are preceded by two footmen who lead Lot's children away. (Genesis 14:8–12)
Folio 3r (Latin)
Upper left: How Noah planted the vine and thereupon, drunken with wine and uncovered, having been ridiculed by one of his sons, is modestly covered by the other two. (Genesis 9:20–23)
Upper right: How the tower of Babylon is erected and God, watching over human haughtiness from on high, confounds their languages that they may not understand each other while building and the work which was begun may thus not be completed. (Genesis 9: 3–9)
Lower left: How Abraham, wishing with the utmost obedience to sacrifice his one and only son at God’s command, having already raised his sword to slaughter, is held back by an angel and beyond hope a ram is offered and destined for sacrifice. (Genesis 22: 1–13)
Lower right: How the army of the King of the Elamites and one of the three other kings, having defeated the king of Gomorrah and four other kings, leads captives and among others Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 14: 1–12)
Folio 3r (Persian)
Upper left margin & upper left: After Noah left the Ark, he planted a vineyard and grew a cluster of grapes. Noah squeezed that cluster and drank its juice and became drunk. He had three sons; one came upon him and saw the father drunk and naked. He was clever, and it was he who called his brothers to see the father in this state. The brothers, seeing the father in this state, averted their eyes and covered his shame.
Upper right margin: A crowd conspired to build a tall tower so that if the rain would come again they would be safe from the Flood. Contrary to their intention, the Exalted God so deemed that if a master builder requested water, soil was delivered, and this was because they were not unanimous.
Lower left: This is the image of His Excellence Abraham who was commanded to sacrifice Isaac and having drawn [his] sword he intended to abide by God’s command. The Most Holy and Exalted God sent [a messenger] to halt his hand and blade to prevent him [Isaac] from harm.
Lower right: Four kings mustered armies; they entered a city and captured the people and amongst them the relative of His Excellence Abraham was captured.
Folio 3r (Judeo-Persian)
Upper left margin, furthest left: Here Noah, having drunk wine, became unconscious; his sons covered him.
Upper right margin, furthest right: The tale about the building of the palace in the days of Nimrod.
Lower left margin, beneath Latin: The site of Isaac’s binding.
Lower right, beneath Latin: The tale of the four kings going to Sodom, taking Lot and his wife prisoners, and assaulting them.And Abraham met them and retook the prisoners and the[ir] goods.
Content consultant: Richard Leson
Persian translated by Sussan Babaie
Judeo-Persian translated by Vera Basch Moreen
Latin translation by Eran Lupu
After the commentary volume accompanying the Fine Art Facsimile edition by Faksimile Verlag Luzern