Vienna Bible Codex Analysis

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The Vienna Genesis is a well-preserved biblical codex. The popularity of the codex followed with the spread of Christianity. The Vienna Genesis for the Jacob Wrestling the Angels and Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well were both made during the early 6th century CE out of tempera, gold, and silver on a painted purple vellum. Early rolls were made of papyrus for long manuscripts, but by the Hellenistic period vellum was used. Since the writing was not scratched off and the paint did not flake off like the papyrus scrolls, people were able to carry around scrolls from place to place. The skin was thought to be more flexible and the handwriting was able to endure longer time periods than papyrus. When paint melted the collagen on the animal skin it created a raised bed for the paint, …show more content…

The use of modeling and white overpainting gives the artwork a sense of naturalism. The artwork is overall highly stylized with shallow and flat figures with a sinuous curve. Classical elements are seen in the artwork such as the colonnade, details of classical architecture, there is also the use of shadow in the legs of the camels.The value of spiritual beauty is seen in the text and material beauty of the Vienna Genesis, creating their overall message. The Jacob Wrestling the Angel is a continuous narrative in a sequence along a U-shaped path. Jacob illustrated in a brown and red tunic leading his servants, two wives, and eleven children across a river. After going over the bridge to cross the river, Jacob is separated from his family. At night he meets and wrestles an angel, so he will be blessed. Once he is blessed his family continues on their journey. An important transformation seen in Jacob’s life is when the Old Testament patriarch is called Israel. The bent bridge illustrates the classical relief and how if it were straightened it could have been a frieze carved in

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