Abraham Ben Yom Tov Ha-Cohen and his Patron Shabbetai ben Mattatyiah: Jewish Art and Culture in Rome in the Late Thirteenth Century

The art of illumination of Hebrew manuscripts in Italy, specifically in Rome, flourished in the last quarter of the 13^th century. The paper will focus on the work of the scribe Abraham Ben Yom Tov ha-Cohen, Ha-Mehokek, who was active in Rome between 1283–1290. In addition to the profession of copyist, he was also a masorate and proofreader, trained in poetic invention and – not least – author of the decoration of the manuscripts he copied.

Five manuscripts are in existence today signed by or attributed to the Mehokek. Three of them, all of them decorated, were commissioned by Shabbetai ben Mattatyiah, a wealthy banker and a learned Jew from Rome. His elevated economic status enabled the patron to hire a professional scribe and order fine manuscripts with a high aesthetic value. The variety of halakhic, philosophical, and scientific texts he commissioned reflect the stream of study of Maimonides` doctrine as well as the rationalistic inclinations of his own thought and that of his supporters – a stream that flourished and spread in Rome in the same period in consideration. In addition, the texts reflect the assimilation by the educated Jewish community in Rome of the scholarly curriculum developed in contemporary Christian society in Italy. The lecture will unveil the world of the scribe and his patron presenting the different aspects of the manuscripts, and will shed light on Jewish life in Rome in the period in consideration.