Judaica Art: Origins and Modern Day Artists
Judaic Art really dates back to the dawn of history, that is, even before the "common era." Among the few artistic works which survived the attrition of time were beautifully illustrated manuscripts, mosaics of Beth Alpha (Israel) and segments of Duro-Europos (Syria), namely the ruins of an ancient synagogue.
Perhaps the first work of Judaic art was the Tablets of the Law, as described in the Bible, housed in the sacred Ark of the Covenant – a gold-covered wooden box that's construction was even prescribed in the Hebrew Scriptures. Image to the right: Modern Shabbat Candle Holders on MostOriginal.com Israel's rich ceremonial affirmation of Jewish history and belief inspired the creation of scrolls, books and ritual objects. In the bible, Bezalel personified art. The Hebrew name's translation is "standing in the shadow of God." According to the book of Exodus, God gave him the intelligence, wisdom and skill "to create marvelous articles." And so Bezalel became an architect, sculptor and designer of holy garments. The first Jewish artist on record, he was known for making the Tabernacle which contained the Ark of the Covenant, constructed by the prescription in the Scriptures. The menorah, a typical ritual object kept with the Ark, has a form which is probably derived from the ancient near Eastern Tree of Life, symbolizing both the end of exile and the heavenly World to Come Ancient Judaica Art during the days of the Roman Empire was known to combine both Near Eastern and classical Greek and Roman elements to depict Hebrew subject matter, both narrative and symbolic. For the creative artisan, Judaica also lends itself to countless other artistic possibilities. Some examples are menorot or candelabras, mezzuzot, Shabbat candle holders and specially hand-crafted Shabbat Candlesticks. Disclaimer: Article submitters are solely responsible for the content of their articles. ArtiLib can't be held liable for the contents of the articles. Report Abuse | Browse By Category |
| Contact ArtiLib| Privacy Policy| Terms of Service |