Initial Word Panel

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel and foliate scroll between the two text columns. Image taken from f. 167 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimoni More

Detail: decorated initial-word panel ~Bereshit~ (In the beginning), at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 3 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and ~Haftarot~ with ~masorah~ and Rash's co More

Inhabited initial-word panel, ~Way-yikra~ (and the Lord called) with gold letters and with two dragons, at the beginning of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 55 of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Fiv More

Decorated initial-word panel accompanied with foliate scrolls. Image taken from f. 226 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel, ~Wa-yeshev~ (And Jacob dwelt in the land) inhabited by two hybrids, at the beginning of ~Parashat wa-yeshev~ (Gen. 37:1-40:23). Image taken from f. 20v of Miscellany of biblical and other te More

Decorated initial-word panel with foliate scroll spreading to the upper margin. Image taken from f. 29 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel, ~Bereshit~ (in the beginning), at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 1v of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~), ~Haftarot~, an More

Initial-word panel with pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 24 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 242v of Pentateuch, ~Haftarot~ and the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration, at Shavuot. Image taken from f. 133 of Prayer book, Sephardic rite. Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel, ~Parashat yom shishi~ at the beginning of a weekly portion of the Torah for Passover (Num. (9:1-14) with gold letters, foliate, a bird, and the distorted figure of a man. Image taken from f. More

Detail of a page: initial-word panel with gold letters, pen-flourishing and medallions inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of the Book of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 195 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hame More

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing, inhabited by a dog, and accompanied with a bird in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 1v of Commentary on the Pentateuch in an abridged form. W More

Initial-word panel inhabited by a dragon and a bird, decorated with gold letters, white vine scrolls and gold leaves at the corners, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 452 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls More

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 223v of Pentateuch with Targum and Rashi's commentary (ff. 1-219); Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~; ff. 220-244v); ~Haf More

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel ~U-vi-shnat~ (and in the year of) accompanied with a foliate border inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of Ezra-Nehemiah. Image taken from f. 286v of Bible with More

Initial-word panel with gold letters and penwork decoration, foliate full border inhabited by birds in the margins, at the beginning of ~Sefer ha-Mada~. Image taken from f. 31v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volume 1 More

Initial-word panel with gold letters, pen-flourishing and medallions inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of the Book of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 195 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and More

Initial-word panel ~Elleh~ (these) decorated with floral border inhabited by birds, and with a medallion containing a coat of arms (of Joab Emmanuel), at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 76v of Pent More

Initial-word panel decorated with penwork and pen-flourishing at the beginning of the section for Yom Kippur. Image taken from f. 50v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, North More

Historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book for Shavu More

Initial word panel with penwork decoration with full floral and penwork border inhabited by birds, at the beginning of Amos. Image taken from f. 252 of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva More

Initial-word panel decorated with a floral border inhabited by putti and birds, at the beginning of the mishnaic tractate ~Pirqei Avot~. Image taken from f. 112 of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the More

Decorated initial-word panel, at the beginning of Psalm 118:5: ~Min~ (in [distress]). Image taken from f. 30 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a decorated initial-word panel with the title of the book, ~S[efer] Shemot~ (the Book of Exodus) at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 31 of Bible (the 'King's Bible'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel with the title of the book, ~S[efer] Shemot~ (the Book of Exodus) at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 31 of Bible (the 'King's Bible'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel accompanied with foliate scrolls and later additions of a bird and a flower vase. Image taken from f. 72v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel with gold letters and penwork decoration, foliate full border inhabited by a rabbit in the margins, at the beginning of ~Sefer Zemanim~. Image taken from f. 106v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volu More

Initial-word panel decorated with white vine motifs at the beginning of the ~musaf~ for Yom Kippur. Image taken from f. 110v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, North African r More

Initial-word panel ~Elleh~ (these) decorated with floral border inhabited by birds, and with a medallion containing Moses speaking to the people of Israel, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 2 More

Initial-word panel ~Sefer~ (book) flanked by foliate scrolls, at the beginning of the second book of Avicenna’s Canon. Image taken from f. 151 of Hebrew translation of the first two books of Avicenna's Canon. W More

Decorated initial-word panel with gold letters and a miniature in the lower margin depicting a dragon and foliate, at Psalm 118, in the Hallel. Image taken from f. 60v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Hagg More

Detail of a decorated initial word panel ~We-ha-melekh~ (and the king), at the beginning of Kings. Ownership inscription in the initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 110v of Former and Latter Prophets (~Nevii More

Initial-word panel ~Lefikakh~ (Therefore) decorated with foliate and band motifs, at the beginning of the passage, 'Therefore, we are bound to thank'. A torso of a winged lady lifting up the second cup of wine. More

Initial-word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (there was) with its frame inhabited by dragons with foliate scroll tails, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 351v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shab More

Initial-word panels with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 100v of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a decorated initial word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (and it came to pass), at the beginning of Ezekiel. Image taken from f. 266v of Former and Latter Prophets (~Neviim~). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with penwork and accompanied with embellished bands, at the beginning of Proverbs. Image taken from f. 93 of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~: the Hagiog More

Decorated initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 86 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 85 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with penwork and accompanied with embellished bands, at the beginning of Song of Songs. Image taken from f. 141 of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~: the More

Decorated initial-word panel ~Avadim~ (slaves) at the beginning of the passage, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves'. Image taken from f. 5v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel, ~Shir~ (song) with gold letters, at the beginning of the Song of Songs (~Shir ha-Shirim~) belonging to the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh Megillot~). Image taken from f. 117v of Pentateuch More

Detail of a page: initial-word panel, ~We-elleh~ (and these) with gold letters and foliate decoration, at the beginning of Exodus. Above the panel, figural micrography from masoretic notes. Image taken from f. More

Decorated initial-word panel, ~Barukh~ (Blessed) in foliate frame, at the beginning of the benediction cited before drinking of the second cup. Image taken from f. 25 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-More More

Decorated initial-word panel, at the beginning of the parable on the Four Sons. Image taken from f. 7 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 82 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Detail: initial-word panel inhabited by a small bird (a duck?), at the beginning of ~parashat wa-yelekh~ (Deut. 31:1-30). Image taken from f. 411 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and ~Haftarot~ w More

Initial-word panel with gold letters and penwork decoration, foliate full border in the margins, at the beginning of ~Sefer Ahavah~. Image taken from f. 63v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volume 1. Written in Hebrew. More

Decorated initial-word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (and it came to pass) with partial foliate border, at the beginning of Judges. Image taken from f. 27 of Former and Latter Prophets (~Neviim~). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel on a text page. Image taken from f. 57v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (and it came to pass) decorated with penwork and inhabited by a rooster. The panel is accompanied by a foliate border inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of 1 Samuel. Image take More

Initial-word panel decorated with a floral border, at the beginning of the Haggadah. Image taken from f. 71v of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~), ~Haftarot~, and gr More

Initial-word panel inhabited by animals and dragons including two hare hunting scenes, at the beginning of the section on the customs of Passover. Image taken from f. 37v of ~Keter Malkhut~ (The Crown of Kingsh More

Decorated initial-word panel ~We-elleh~ (and these) with gold letters and white vine scrolls, at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 104v of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and ~Haftarot~ More

Full-page micrography with full floral and penwork border. Image taken from f. 185 of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~: the Hagiographa. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Decorated initial-word panel with silver letters. The last letter ~lamed~ ends in a foliate extending in the upper margin. Image taken from f. 52v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Detail: initial-word panel decorated with gold letters and pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 16v of Biblical readings and liturgical poems for Passover. Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel in foliate frame: ~We-avarti~, a the beginning of the section ''For I will pass through the land of Egypt'. Image taken from f. 14 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Ha More

Initial-word panel decorated with penwork and full floral and penwork border. Image taken from f. 184v of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~: the Hagiographa. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

Decorated initial-word panel ~Masa~ (burden) with partial foliate border inhabited by a bird, at the beginning of Nahum. Image taken from f. 332v of Former and Latter Prophets (~Neviim~). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 47 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the whole year, Sephardic rite, with the commentary of Joseph Zaddik. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of an initial-word panel ~Nishmat~ (breath) with gold letters surrounded by foliate motifs, at the beginning of the liturgical poem, 'The breath of every living thing'. Image taken from f. 39 of Haggadah More

Detail: historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book f More

Initial-word panel decorated with pen-flourishing and accompanied by two birds. Image taken from f. 72v of Prayer book (~siddur~), Italian rite. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a decorated initial-word panel ~Masa~ (burden), at the beginning of Nahum. Image taken from f. 332v of Former and Latter Prophets (~Neviim~). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel, ~Way-yedabber~ (and the Lord spake) with gold letters and inhabited by dragons, at the beginning of Numbers. Image taken from f. 73 of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scro More

Initial word panel with penwork decoration with full floral border inhabited by birds, at the end of Nahum and beginning of Habukkuk. Image taken from f. 261v of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ More

Detail of an initial-word panel with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing accompanied with a bird in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 46v of Commentary on the Pentateuch in an abridged form. Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel in foliate frame, at the beginning of the Targumic paraphrase of ~Parashat be-Shallah~. Image taken from f. 36 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with a mask and pen-flourishing inhabited by a male torso and a rabbit. Image taken from f. 140v of Pentateuch (the 'Duke of Sussex's Italian Pentateuch'). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with white vine motifs at the beginning of the ~minhah~ for Yom Kippur. Image taken from f. 138v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, North African More

Initial-word panel decorated with floral border inhabited by birds, at the beginning of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 142v of Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary and Targum Onkelos (ff. 1-310v); ~Haftarot~ with More

Initial-word panel decorated with penwork and accompanied with a partial border of pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 65v of Zohar on Genesis. Written in Hebrew.

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel ~Masa~ (burden), at the beginning of Malachi. Image taken from f. 126v of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic. The "BL Harley Manus More

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 48v of Hebrew Grammar: ~Petah Devarai~ (ff. 1-103v), ~Luhot ha-poel~ (ff. 106v-124v). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel ~Divrei~ (the words of) with partial foliate border inhabited by a dragon, at the beginning of Amos. Image taken from f. 321 of Former and Latter Prophets (~Neviim~). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel with foliate motifs and a hybrid. Image taken from f. 127v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel accompanied by foliate border, at the beginning of Numbers. Image taken from f. 87 of Pentateuch (the 'Duke of Sussex's Italian Pentateuch'). Written in Hebrew.

Detail of an initial-word panel decorated with foliate motifs, at the beginning of the liturgical poem for Passover, 'Many were the miracles' (Davidson vol. 1, 2175). A torso of a bearded man is holding a blank More

Decorated initial-word panel, ~Barukh~ (blessed) with gold letters. A foliated tailed dragon biting the tail of the 'Khaf', the last letter of ~Barukh~. Image taken from f. 35 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sis More

Decorated initial-word panel, ~Barukh~ (blessed) with silver letters, red penwork decoration, a dragon in the lower margin biting the tail of the 'Khaf', tha last letter of the initial-word. Image taken from f. More

Detail: initial-word panel inhabited by a dragon and a bird, decorated with gold letters, white vine scrolls and gold leaves at the corners, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 452 of Pentateuch, Five More

Detail of a page: inhabited initial-word panel at the beginning of the grammatical treatise of Yequtiel ben Judah ha-Naqdan, ~Ein ha-Qoreh~ (The Eye of the Reader). The gold initial word, ~Barukh~ (blessed) is More

Inhabited initial-word panel with the name of the scribe ('Benjamin, the scribe') and the first word of a hymn for Passover composed by Benjamin ben Azriel. Image taken from f. 306v of Miscellany of biblical an More

Decorated initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 87 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel accompanied with foliate scrolls inhabited by birds. Image taken from f. 15v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel decorated with a floral border, and two crowns, at the beginning of the poem ~Keter Malkhut~ (The crown of kingship) by Solomon ibn Gabirol. Image taken from f. 4 of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg P More

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing accompanied with a dog in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 54 of Commentary on the Pentateuch in an abridged form. Written in Hebrew.

Initial-word panel with letters inhabited by hybrids and dragons with foliate scroll frame, at the beginning of ~Shabbat Parah~ (Davidson vol. 1, no. 1830). Image taken from f. 78v of Festival prayer book (~mah More

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 124v of Commentary on the Pentateuch. Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel on a text page. Image taken from f. 58v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel. Image taken from f. 50 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Detail: initial-word panel decorated with a floral border, at the beginning of the Haggadah. Image taken from f. 71v of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~), ~Haftarot~ More

Initial-word panel, ~Elleh~ (these) with gold letters and inhabited by dragons and hybrids, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 96v of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scroll More

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel ~Divrei~ (the words of), at the beginning of Ecclesiastes. Image taken from f. 260 of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic. The "BL More

Detail of an initial-word panel ~Elleh~ (these) decorated with penwork, at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 34v of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~. Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Manuscri More

Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel ~Ha-masa~ (the burden) accompanied with a foliate border inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of Habakkuk. Image taken from f. 117v of Bible with ~masorah magna~ More

Decorated initial-word panel at the beginning of Esther. Image taken from f. 258v of Pentateuch, ~Haftarot~ and the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~). Written in Hebrew.

Decorated initial-word panel accompanied with two dragons with foliated tails. Image taken from f. 28 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.