This 15th-century painting on vellum of King David playing an Ethiopian box lute would have been bound in a Bible with the Psalms. In general, this museum does not acquire individual manuscript pages so as not to encourage the dismemberment of books, but this old fragment is an exception. Scribes in an Ethiopian monastery obviously used the back as a practice sheet for calligraphy.
Manuscript page
- Label Text
- This image of King David playing a harp would have been bound in a Bible with the Psalms. In general, this museum does not acquire individual manuscript pages so as not to encourage the dismemberment of books, but this old fragment is an exception. Scribes in an Ethiopian monastery obviously used the back as a practice sheet for calligraphy.
- Description
- Painting on vellum of a man playing an Ethiopian box lute, in a 3/4 pose, wearing a red robe. The headtie and cloak are orange with yellow folds. The hair and beard are white with black lines and he is wearing a rod earring.
- Provenance
- Joseph and Patricia Brumit, Sun City West, -- to 2004
- Exhibition History
- African Mosaic: Celebrating a Decade of Collecting, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 19, 2010-November 13, 2013
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Ethiopian Orthodox
- Date
- 15th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Joseph and Patricia Brumit
- Medium
- Parchment, pigment
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 26 x 19.5 cm (10 1/4 x 7 11/16 in.)
- Type
- Book and Manuscript
