Rothschild Haggadah

An illustrated masterpiece from Renaissance Italy

הספרייה הלאומית

The Rothschild Haggadah is one of the great masterpieces of medieval Jewish art. The illuminated manuscript was created in Italy around 1450, combining the traditional Haggadah text with magnificent, colorful illustrations in the Italian Renaissance style.

The Artist and the Work

The illustrations are attributed to a Jewish artist named Joel ben Simeon, who worked in Italy in the 15th century. The artist combined Jewish artistic tradition with advanced Italian painting techniques, creating a unique visual interpretation of the Exodus story.

האיורים מתארים את סדר הפסח בפרטי פרטים, מה שמאפשר לנו להציץ לתוך חיי היהודים באיטליה של הרנסנס

Lots and Vicissitudes

The Haggadah endured a difficult history. During World War II, it was stolen by the Nazis from the Rothschild family collection in Vienna. It was returned to the family only in 1980, and has since been preserved at the National Library in Jerusalem.

The Rothschild Haggadah is a precious testament to the cultural flourishing of the Jewish community in Italy, and to the fruitful encounter between Jewish tradition and Renaissance art.