Washington Manuscript I - Deuteronomy and Joshua (Codex Washingtonensis)

Object Details

• Description

  One hundred two leaves (anciently sewed). Upright, square uncial script in dark brown and red ink; two columns to a page.

  For a full description of the manuscript, see: Sanders, Henry A. "The Old Testament Manuscripts in the Freer Collection" (University of Michigan Humanistic Series, Volume V111), Part I. (The McMillan Co., 1912 and 1917).

• Label

  This parchment codex comprises one hundred two leaves divided into quires (booklets). Each quire is numbered on the first page. Because the numbers begin with 37 and continue through 60, it is clear that the first thirty-six quires are missing-likely the books of Genesis through Numbers.

  Chapter divisions of irregular length are signaled by an enlarged initial letter outside the left margin. The manuscript also offers an early example of rubrication (from the Latin rubricare<, "to color red"), writing in red ink to give visual emphasis to the divisions of a text. Rubrication became a common practice in European manuscripts beginning in the seventh century.

  Various scribes worked on this manuscript, but only two hold much interest. One, probably contemporary with the original scribe, made some corrections. A century or two later, another scribe noted in a cursive script where a reading was to begin and end, and when the reading was to be done.

• Provenance

  To 1906

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1906 [1]

  From 1906 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi in Giza, Egypt, on December 19, 1906 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, Biblical Mss. Section, S.I. 1456, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Peacock Room Comes to America [2011-2016] (April 9, 2011 to January 4, 2016)

  In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000 (October 21, 2006 to January 7, 2007)

  Christian Art (April 10, 1978 to October 12, 1978)

  Christian Art (December 1, 1971 to April 7, 1978)

  Christian Art (January 1, 1963 to May 15, 1968)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian and Byzantine Art (July 28, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 6 Alcove (February 25, 1956 to July 22, 1958)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, East Corridor (October 26 to November 10, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts, Gallery 6, 1947 (April 23 to October 3, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, 1947 (June 18, 1947 to October 26, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts (December 20, 1944 to October 6, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ali Arabi (ca. 1840-1932) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  400s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Biblical Manuscripts, Bible, Bible, O.T.

• Culture

  Christians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts