The art of the Hebrew manuscripts

The Landesmuseum Zurich (Switzerland) presents Beautiful pages. Hebrew manuscripts from the Braginsky Collection, an exhibition that will be on view until March 13, 2012.

The exhibits provide an insight into Jewish life and culture over the centuries, and bear witness to the importance of writing within the Jewish cultural tradition. The illustrated scrolls and books relate stories of people's lives in a variety of communities, including Switzerland. They reveal information about the scholars, artists, printers and readers that were responsible for producing the works, or having them produced. Among the exhibition's many highlights are a Haggadah (prayer book for Pesach) illustrated by Charlotte Rothschild, and the Bouton Haggadah, which is decorated in gold. Both works originate from the 19th century.

The Braginsky Collection contains cultural treasures from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, some of which date back to the 13th century. Having travelled to Amsterdam, New York and Jerusalem, this collection of books, marriage contracts and Esther Scrolls is about to be exhibited in Zurich for the first time.

These works, which come from Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, are of extraordinary aesthetic and cultural significance: Hebrew manuscripts, illustrated scrolls, printed books, marriage contracts and Esther Scrolls (telling the story of the biblical Book of Esther).

Date: until March 13.
Location: Landesmuseum Zürich Museumstrasse 2, 8021 Zurich. Switzerland.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10m to 5pm. Thursdays from 10am to 7pm.