The Joshua Roll

by Steven H Wander

Overview

The "Joshua Roll" (Rome, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 431), a tenth-century illuminated scroll of the first half of the Old Testament book of Joshua, is among the finest examples of Byzantine book illumination. Previously overlooked, the texts accompanying the pictures along with other primary sources explain the miniatures. A critical edition of the Greek with English translation shows how elegantly and accurately the artist illustrated the epic story of Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land. Details of iconography and style suggest that the Joshua Roll is the copy of a cartoon for a triumphal column, which likely was intended to honor the exploits of Basil "the Bastard", chamberlain or chief minister of four emperors, Constantine VII, Nicephorus Phocas, John Tzimisces and the young Basil II.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783895008542
Publisher:	Dr Ludwig Reichert Verlag
Publication date:	02/20/2012
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Contributor Biography - English Steven H. Wander received his Ph.D. in medieval art history from Stanford University. Recipient of grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council of Learned Societies, UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and the Fulbright program to the Courtauld Institute of Art, he has held teaching positions at the University of California, Irvine and currently at the University of Connecticut, Stamford. He has published widely on Byzantine Art and English Gothic Architecture.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations 11

Diagrams 11

Figures 11

Plates 13

Preface 15

I The Relationship of Text and Picture 17

II The Scenes 25

a The Lost Scenes of Rahab and the Israelite Spies 25

b The Scenes of the Joshua Roll 30

III The Purpose and Patron of the Joshua Roll 79

a Rotuli Model Books-The Joshua Roll as a Triumphal Column 79

b The Joshua Roll and Basil the παρακοιμωμενος, Maecenas 93

c The Life and Triumph of Basil the παρακοιμωμενος 106

d The Joshua Roll and Heraclius-The Bible of Niketas and Justinian 133

IV Conclusion 139

V Appendix I: Provenance 143

VI Appendix II: The Sequence of Scenes on the Joshua Roll in Comparison with the Five Octateuchs 145

Bibliography 149

Primary Sources 149

Secondary Literature 153

Illustrations 175

Editorial Reviews

"...Wander makes important and novel contributions to our understanding of the Joshua Roll, challenging longstanding assumptions about the internal relationship of text and image as well as the accuracy of the inscriptions themselves." —Alicia Walker, The Medieval Review, 15.09.13

From the Publisher