Moses Ibn Zabarah: The Great Calligrapher of the Bible of Coruña

Moses lived with his family in Coruña at the request of his patron, for ten long months writing two pages daily, in Sephardic square cursive, with brown ink, in two columns, on pages measuring 300 by 235 millimeters.

Moses hired a manuscript illuminator to illustrate the margins, the space between the columns, and the initial letters, as well as to insert beautifully drawn pages. The illuminator left his own signature, “I, Joseph Ibn Hayyim, illuminated and completed this book,” in large letters that fill an entire page, representing figures of men and women in leather, animals, and fabulous creatures… Sometimes Joseph paints the biblical event narrated on that page, other times, beautiful geometric shapes in Mudejar style, and occasionally, he draws Jews with the typical pointed hat, resembling a peasant beret.

The collaboration between the calligrapher and the illuminator was total. Both displayed biblical names, as was customary among medieval Jews, which led to mutual gifts: Moses sought to highlight the deeds concerning Joseph, son of Jacob, and, in turn, Joseph decorates with special care Psalm 90, the prayer to Moses.

The result is ultimately an original and beautiful work. For example, the paintings of King David seated on his throne, Jonah being swallowed by the fish, or the astrologer Balaam consulting the astrolabe.