Artwork
Joshua before the Lord
Joshua before the Lord is a tempera drawing by French 13th Century. It dates from 1270 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The miniature, titled *Joshua before the Lord*, is a tempera and gold‑leaf illustration on vellum.
The miniature, titled *Joshua before the Lord*, is a tempera and gold‑leaf illustration on vellum. It occupies the interior of a large initial P that opens a manuscript text. The composition is confined to the letter’s space, with a kneeling figure in a blue robe gesturing toward a luminous, sword‑bearing presence above, set against a gold background and surrounded by densely packed red and blue script.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts the biblical episode in which Joshua encounters the divine presence, likely representing the moment of divine commissioning. The kneeling figure’s posture and upward pointing gesture convey reverence and awe, while the radiant figure, possibly an angel or a manifestation of God, underscores the sanctity of the encounter. The gold leaf intensifies the sense of holiness associated with the event.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the pigments are mixed with a water‑soluble binder, producing vivid, opaque colors that stand out against the dark vellum. Gold leaf applied to the background creates a reflective surface that enhances the luminous quality of the divine figure. The artist employs a compact, highly detailed approach typical of medieval manuscript illumination, with tight lettering framing the image.
Context
The illustration forms part of a larger illuminated manuscript, where decorative initials often contain narrative scenes. Such integrated miniatures served both decorative and didactic purposes, reinforcing the textual content. The use of bright hues, gold, and intricate lettering reflects the aesthetic conventions of high medieval devotional art, intended for private or liturgical use.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist worked in the last decades of the 13th century, painting scenes from the Bible on vellum with gold leaf and bright colors.
Saint Mark
Saint Luke
The Marriage; the Kiss of the Bride (initial P); the Bride Abandoned (initial D)
Initial "V" from the commentary of Nehemiah, one of six illustrated leaves from the Postilla Litteralis (Literal Commentary) of Nicholas of Lyra
Manuscript Leaf from a Bible (Deuteronomy)
Christ as the Man of Sorrows
Manuscript Illumination with Initial V, from a Bible
Opening Page of Book IX of Valerius Maximus's Facta et dicta memorabilia
Opening Pages from Valerius Maximus's Facta et dicta memorabilia
page from the Holy Bible in Bohemian