Advance reservations for Morgan Members only. Tickets are available at the Tickets Desk on the day of the screening.
This program has been cancelled. We will be in contact if we are able to reschedule the program at a later date. Please contact tickets@themorgan.org with any questions. The film can also be viewed online by going to The Book of Ruth: Medieval to Modern.
Director: Rudi Wolff
(2018, 43 minutes)
This documentary tells the story of the biblical character of Ruth by weaving together the artist Barbara Wolff painting and illuminating the book of Ruth with discussion by experts in the fields of Near Eastern archaeology, history, and biblical exegesis leading to the genealogy of King David. The Hebrew text, fully illuminated, takes its inspiration from biblical responsa, commentary, and folklore. The English text's pen drawings depict objects, plants and animals that the book of Ruth's early Iron Age people would have known. Both manuscript and film conclude with the final verses of Proverbs (31:10-31 Women of Valor), an acknowledgement of biblical woman celebrated for wisdom and righteousness.
The exhibition The Book of Ruth: Medieval to Modern will be open for program attendees.
Sandal of Ratification. The Joanna S. Rose Illuminated Book of Ruth, in Hebrew and English, United States, New York, and Israel, Jerusalem, 2015-17, Commissioned by Joanna S. Rose, written by Izzy Pludwinski, designed and illuminated by Barbara Wolff, MS M.1210, fol. 24r, Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2018. The Morgan Library & Museum. Photography by Rudi Wolff. Artwork © Barbara Wolff.