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Coptic Manuscript

Coptic Manuscript

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This bound manuscript highlights Ethiopia’s longstanding Christian heritage. A monk handwrote the text on vellum (animal skin) in the region’s ancient liturgical language, Ge’ez. An artist later scraped away some text and painted six illustrations. This one depicts King David on his throne strumming a krar, a secular Ethiopian harp.
Artist
Unknown (Ethiopian, Amhara People)
Title
Coptic Manuscript
Date
illustrations ca. 1960; text 19th century
Medium
Tempera on parchment, wood and twine
Dimensions
6 5/8 x 4 in. Overall
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Earnest C. Watson
Accession No.
66.13.14
Geography
Ethiopia

Related

ca. 1960-62, likely purchased in India* by Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Charles Watson (Santa Barbara, CA); 1966, gifted to the University of Wisconsin–Madison; 1967, transferred to the Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]. *General donor file contains correspondence from Mrs. Watson stating that she and Mr. Watson’s collection of Indian art and artifacts was begun and amassed while living in New Delhi between 1960 and 1962; however, specific acquisition information is not documented.

  • Rarey, Matthew Francis and Henry John Drewal. "Never at Rest: African Art at the University of Wisconsin." African Arts, vol 53, no. 4 (2020): 68-85. fig. 5

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