“Better is the Sight of the Eyes than the Wandering of the Desire”: On Micrographic Decoration in the Erfurt Bible 1212

In one of the Erfurt Bibles, Berlin, Staatsbibliothek (Preussischer Kulturbesitz) Or. fol. 1212, produced in the thirteenth century we find unique micrography decorations. In a recent study by Annette Weber, she discusses the meaning of initial words decorations in relation to the ideas and writings of the German Pietists (Hasidei Ashkenaz). In the proposed paper, I wish to further elaborate on this idea and focus mainly on two scenes: the first from the opening of the book of Ezekiel and the second from Proverbs. Against the background of contemporary textual and artistic evidence, this study will be put into context of medieval Jewish-Christian relations