Scribe Collection (#3)

Catholic Rulers Administering Justice, 1860 (oil on canvas)
IND113622 Catholic Rulers Administering Justice, 1860 (oil on canvas) by Manzano y Mejorada, Victor (1831-65); Palacio Real de Madrid

Japanese surimono woodcut by Totoya Hokkei
7269194 Japanese surimono woodcut by Totoya Hokkei. by Hokkei, Toyota (1780-1850); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Japanese surimono woodcut by Totoya Hokkei dating from the mid 19th century)

Chair with ornate carved back and cushion with tassels, and scriptorium or inkstand, 10th century
6338951 Chair with ornate carved back and cushion with tassels, and scriptorium or inkstand, 10th century by Villain (19th century); (add.info)

A letter writer with customers in Padua, Italy, 19th century. 1831 (engraving)
7234787 A letter writer with customers in Padua, Italy, 19th century. 1831 (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Tablet inscribed with Greek letters, Iraq, mid 2nd century BC (carved clay)
AMQ113732 Tablet inscribed with Greek letters, Iraq, mid 2nd century BC (carved clay) by Iraqi School; 8.2x6 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Scribe at work with quill and knife at a writing desk, seated on a chair with footrest, 9th century
6338982 Scribe at work with quill and knife at a writing desk, seated on a chair with footrest, 9th century by Villain (19th century); (add.info)

Ms R 17 I f. 283v Monk Eadwine at work on the manuscript, Eadwine Psalter, c. 1150 (vellum)
BAL40917 Ms R 17 I f.283v Monk Eadwine at work on the manuscript, Eadwine Psalter, c.1150 (vellum) by English School, (12th century); Trinity College, Cambridge, UK

Ms 3054 fol. 1 Presentation of the book, from Tacuinum Sanitatis (vellum)
XIR249203 Ms 3054 fol.1 Presentation of the book, from Tacuinum Sanitatis (vellum) by Italian School, (15th century); Bibliotheque Municipale, Rouen

Baruch
" Vintage engraving from the 1870 of a scene from the Old Testament by Gustave Dore showing Baruch ben Neriah who was the scribe, disciple, secretary

Scribe or Copyist, XV Century (coloured engraving)
7159155 Scribe or Copyist, XV Century (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scribe or Copyist, XV Century)

Portrait of Christine de Pisan, XV Century (coloured engraving)
7159151 Portrait of Christine de Pisan, XV Century (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of Christine de Pisan, XV Century)

THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas)
7215363 THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas) by Repin, Ilya Efimovich (1844-1930); Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Writing in the Land of the Two Rivers (colour litho)
7159484 Writing in the Land of the Two Rivers (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Writing in the Land of the Two Rivers)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Scribe (arabe); Schriftgelehrte (engraving)
7197516 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Scribe (arabe); Schriftgelehrte (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scribe (arabe); Schriftgelehrte

Scribe or copyist, 15th Century (engraving)
7185660 Scribe or copyist, 15th Century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scribe or copyist, miniature from the Chroniques de Hainaut, 15th Century)

THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas)
7215362 THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas) by Repin, Ilya Efimovich (1844-1930); Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas)
7215359 THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas) by Repin, Ilya Efimovich (1844-1930); Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

An Eastern letter-writer (engraving)
7192448 An Eastern letter-writer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Eastern letter-writer)

Extract from a manuscript from the Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels (chromolitho)
7173019 Extract from a manuscript from the Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Stela of Thenti and Nefert, Egypt, Old Kingdom, mid-Dynasty 4 (about 2566-2532 BCE)

A Mayan polychrome vessel depicting a crosslegged lord seated on a dais covered with
1767160 A Mayan polychrome vessel depicting a crosslegged lord seated on a dais covered with jaguar skin, before him a seated attendant wearing a birds mask, the Ahau Vulture

The Will (engraving)
3646439 The Will (engraving) by Burgkmair, Hans (c.1473-1531) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Will. Illustration for Kulturgeschichtliches Bilderbuch aus drei Jahrhunderten by Georg)

Scene representing the driving of a large herd of cattle, for stocktaking purposes, on an Egyptian farm (photo)
6004010 Scene representing the driving of a large herd of cattle, for stocktaking purposes, on an Egyptian farm (photo) by English Photographer

Medieval scribe working on a manuscript, book ownership label (colour litho)
6030612 Medieval scribe working on a manuscript, book ownership label (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Medieval scribe working on a manuscript)

Two Chevaliers Holding an Argument about the Immaculate Conception (chromolitho)
668494 Two Chevaliers Holding an Argument about the Immaculate Conception (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Bible Scribe of the Reformation Period (engraving)
672218 A Bible Scribe of the Reformation Period (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Bible Scribe of the Reformation Period)

Xenophon dictating his history, illustration from Hutchinson
STC373511 Xenophon dictating his history, illustration from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, 1915 (litho) by Weatherstone, A.C

Ezra (engraving)
976530 Ezra (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ezra. Illustration for The Prize Bible (Wells Gardner, Darton & Co, c 1890)

Whilst in prison Marco Polo dictated the story of his adventures, c. 1950 (litho)
1122740 Whilst in prison Marco Polo dictated the story of his adventures, c.1950 (litho) by Valda, John Harris (d.1941); Private Collection; (add.info)

Scribe and Priest of Thoth carrying a baboon, from Ashmunein (ancient Hermopolis
AMQ419872 Scribe and Priest of Thoth carrying a baboon, from Ashmunein (ancient Hermopolis) New Kingdom, XIX Dynasty (1307-1196 BC) (limestone) (see also 107880)

Statuette of a Scribe, late Classic Period (700-1000 AD) (ceramic)
452439 Statuette of a Scribe, late Classic Period (700-1000 AD) (ceramic) by Zapotec; Museo Regional de Oaxaca, Mexico; Mexican, out of copyright

Die-Sinker (engraving)
2801965 Die-Sinker (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Die-Sinker. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

Thirteenth Century (chromolitho)
2790910 Thirteenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thirteenth Century)

The finding of the book, illustration from Pictures That Teach The Crown Series
3082999 The finding of the book, illustration from Pictures That Teach The Crown Series, 1920 (colour litho) by Copping, Harold (1863-1932); Private Collection; (add.info)

Brahmins: a Scribe and an Interpreter, 1827-35 (colour litho)
478563 Brahmins: a Scribe and an Interpreter, 1827-35 (colour litho) by Burnouf, M.E. (fl.1827-35); Private Collection; (add.info.: Brahmanes, Ecrivain & Interprte)

French actor Bertin as Zug in the historical melodrama Pauvre Berger by Daubigny, Carmouche and Hyacinthe at the Theatre du Panorama Dramatique, 1823

Scribe and Priest of Thoth carrying a baboon, from Ashmunein (ancient Hermopolis
AMQ107880 Scribe and Priest of Thoth carrying a baboon, from Ashmunein (ancient Hermopolis) New Kingdom, XIX Dynasty (1307-1196 BC) (limestone) by Egyptian 19th Dynasty (c.1292-1187 BC); height

Group of toilet and writing utensils (ivory)
FIT111290 Group of toilet and writing utensils (ivory) by Roman, (1st century AD); Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; eFitzwilliam Museum; out of copyright

Pen case, from Beni Hasan (wood) (see 107879)
AMQ107034 Pen case, from Beni Hasan (wood) (see 107879) by Egyptian, Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC); Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; eAshmolean Museum; Egyptian, out of copyright

Napoleon Dictating his Memoirs at St. Helena to Comte Las Casas (w / c on paper)
MDR106947 Napoleon Dictating his Memoirs at St. Helena to Comte Las Casas (w/c on paper) by Cattermole, George (1800-68) (attr)

Frontispiece for the French Academy dictionary, engraved by Jean Mariette (1660-1742
XIR165129 Frontispiece for the French Academy dictionary, engraved by Jean Mariette (1660-1742) (engraving) (b/w photo) by Corneille, Jean-Baptiste (1649-95) (after); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

A scribes instruments (wood, ivory, bronze and enamel)
PWI110868 A scribes instruments (wood, ivory, bronze and enamel) by Egyptian, New Kingdom (c.1567-1085 BC); Louvre, Paris, France; ePeter Willi; Egyptian, out of copyright

Frontispiece of Antonio de Nebrijas (1444-1522) Gramatica (vellum)
XJL211264 Frontispiece of Antonio de Nebrijas (1444-1522) Gramatica (vellum) by Spanish School, (16th century); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Ms 1044 Fol. 16v The Word, Creator of the World and The Author Writing His Book
XIR168314 Ms 1044 Fol.16v The Word, Creator of the World and The Author Writing His Book, from Ovide Moralise written by Chretien Legouais (vellum) by French School

Fol. 195v A Dying Man Dictating his Will, from Justiniani in Fortiatum (vellum)
XIR181833 Fol.195v A Dying Man Dictating his Will, from Justiniani in Fortiatum (vellum) by French School, (14th century); Biblioteca Monasterio del Escorial, Madrid

Court of Kings Bench, Westminster Hall, c. 1460 (vellum)
BAL177094 Court of Kings Bench, Westminster Hall, c.1460 (vellum) by English School, (15th century); Inner Temple, London

Scribes case for writing reeds, from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (c
XBP228566 Scribes case for writing reeds, from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (c.1370-1352 BC) New Kingdom (gilded wood inlaid with semi-precious stones) (see also 149435)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The art of the scribe has transcended time and cultures, leaving behind a rich legacy of knowledge and creativity. From the ancient Papyrus of Ani (Book of the Dead) to the intricate illustrations in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, these skilled individuals played a vital role in preserving history. In medieval times, scribes meticulously copied manuscripts, ensuring that valuable texts were not lost to time. Their dedication can be seen in depictions such as The Seven Liberal Arts from Hortus deliciarum or the Folio of Codex depicting Catalan Parliament. These works showcase their attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Scribes also held important positions within legal systems like the Court of Exchequer and Court of Common Pleas. They recorded proceedings with precision, ensuring justice was served and documented for future generations. Beyond administrative duties, scribes were often scholars themselves. In 16th-century Europe, they immersed themselves in academia, contributing to intellectual pursuits alongside renowned thinkers. Their work helped shape our understanding of various subjects throughout history. From ancient Egypt's Stela of Ani depicting a royal scribe to The Seated Scribe statue dating back thousands of years before Christ, these artifacts demonstrate how highly regarded this profession was across civilizations. Even beyond written records, scribes found inspiration in nature and poetry. A Japanese poet sitting beneath a cherry tree captures their connection with beauty and contemplation while transcribing thoughts onto paper. Throughout history, whether it be recording prophecies like Jeremiah dictating his visions or copying manuscripts by candlelight during medieval times – one thing remains constant: the indispensable role played by these dedicated individuals known as scribes.