Pentateuch
Creation
This opening illumination from Genesis uses gold throughout to symbolize God’s intervention in the chaos and His ordering of the universe and its elements. Hence, the gold squares are applied geometrically, starting with day one and expanding progressively outwards and upwards in influence until reaching the serenity and simplicity of the Sabbath. Each of the seven strips unfolds the story day-by-day, and the presence of the snake in the sixth slice hints at what is to come.
Abraham
The over-lapping shapes strongly suggest multiple menorahs and within the branches of the candelabrum are the Hebrew names of the Twelve Tribes of Isreal. The green leaves sprouting from old vegetation anticipate new salvation on the witness of Abraham’s faith.
Creation, Donald Jackson with contributions from Chris Tomlin; Abraham (detail from Abraham and Sarah), Donald Jackson; Gen 11:14 to 13:6, Scribe: Brian Simpson; Gen 13:7 to 14:24 Scribe: Donald Jackson; Hebrew Lettering, Izzy Pludwinski, ©2003 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Offset Lithograph, high-quality 10-micron stochastic hybrid printing with fade-resistant ultraviolet inks, silver and gold foils, on acid-free uncoated 100% archival cotton Monadnock paper.