February 13, 2015

Hebrew Illumination for Our Time: The Art of Barbara Wolff at The Morgan Library & Museum, February 6 – May 3, 2015

“This exhibition features the work of one of the rare contemporary artists using the techniques of medieval manuscript illumination. Barbara Wolff paints on vellum—animal skin—and highlights her work with gold, silver, and platinum foils. Like much medieval art, Wolff ’s creations crystalize the small, the precise, and the beautiful in nature.” — The Morgan Library & Museum.

1. Among the Branches They Sing

Barbara Wolff, Among the Branches They Sing from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 3. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

2. Wine That Maketh Glad

Barbara Wolff, Wine That Maketh Glad the Heart of Man from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 5. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

3. Leviathan Whom Thou Hast Formed

Barbara Wolff, Leviathan Whom Thou Hast Formed from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 8. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

4. How Manifold Are Thy Works

Barbara Wolff, How Manifold Are Thy Works from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 7. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

5. You Renew the Face of The Earth

Barbara Wolff, You Renew the Face of the Earth from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 9. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

6. Bless the Lord O My Soul

Barbara Wolff, Bless the Lord, O My Soul from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 1. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

7. To Bring Forth Bread

Barbara Wolff, To Bring Forth Bread from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 4. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

8. Who Appointed the Moon for Seasons

Barbara Wolff, Who Appointed the Moon for the Seasons from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 6. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2015. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

9. I Will Sing Unto the Lord

Barbara Wolff, I Will Sing Unto the Lord from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 10. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

10. And the Mountains Rose

Barbara Wolff, The Mountains Rose from You Renew the Face of the Earth: Psalm 104. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1190, fol. 2. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

11. We Were Slaves

Barbara Wolff, We Were Slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1191, p. 10 (detail). Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

12. Against All the Gods

Barbara Wolff, Against All the Gods of Egypt I Will Execute Judgement from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1191, p. 19 (detail). Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

13. The Egyptians Imposed Heavy Labor

Barbara Wolff, The Egyptians Imposed Heavy Labor Upon the Children of Israel from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1191, p. 16 (detail). Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

14. The Ten Plagues

Barbara Wolff, The Ten Plagues from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1191, p. 21. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

15. Pesach Matzah Maror

Barbara Wolff, Pesach, Matzah, Maror from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M. 1191, p. 26. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

16. God Tore the Sea Apart

Barbara Wolff, God Tore the Sea Apart and Sank Our Oppressors in the Midst of It from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1191, p. 25 (detail). Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

17. To Him That Made the Great Lights

Barbara Wolff, To Him That Made the Great Lights from The Rose Haggadah. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M. 1191, p. 47. Gift of Joanna S. Rose, 2014. Artwork © 2015 Barbara Wolff. Photography by Rudi Wolff.

Images courtesy The Morgan Library & Museum