Scribe Collection (#4)

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)

Scribes chest (painted wood)
SCP50796 Scribes chest (painted wood) by Egyptian, New Kingdom (c.1567-1085 BC); 28x27.2x37 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; Egyptian, out of copyright

St. John the Baptist with the Scribes and Pharisees, c. 1655 (oil on canvas)
FIT69691 St. John the Baptist with the Scribes and Pharisees, c.1655 (oil on canvas) by Murillo, Bartolome Esteban (1618-82); 261.2x178.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Representation of columnist Ramon Muntaner (1265-1336) writing his chronicle
AIS5337238 Representation of columnist Ramon Muntaner (1265-1336) writing his chronicle, from the Chronicles of Jaume I, 13th century (illuminated manuscript) by Catalan School

Portrait of a Scholar, 1631 (oil on canvas)
1272608 Portrait of a Scholar, 1631 (oil on canvas) by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-69); 104.4x91.8 cm; State Hermitage Museum, St

Detail from a Mayan shell roundel, depicting a crosslegged scribe with pen in hand, c
1767156 Detail from a Mayan shell roundel, depicting a crosslegged scribe with pen in hand, c.550-950 (shell) by Mayan; 5.1 dia

Woman illuminating the Book of the Prudent and Imprudent by Catherine d
LSE930588 Woman illuminating the Book of the Prudent and Imprudent by Catherine d Amboise, 1509 (vellum) by French School

A Jewish man writing in a chair (vellum)
GIA702702 A Jewish man writing in a chair (vellum) by Italian School, (14th century); Biblioteca Palatina, Roma, Italy; eGiancarlo Costa; Italian, out of copyright

Woman illuminating the Book of the Prudent and Imprudent by Catherine d
LSE930590 Woman illuminating the Book of the Prudent and Imprudent by Catherine d Amboise, 1509 (vellum) by French School, (16th century); Bibliotheque de L Arsenal, Paris

A Monk Scribe (oil on canvas)
3028336 A Monk Scribe (oil on canvas) by Master of the Annunciation to the Shepherds (17th century); 62.7x50.2 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Italian, out of copyright

Moses Holding the Ten Commandments (oil on canvas)
990350 Moses Holding the Ten Commandments (oil on canvas) by Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74) (studio of); 91.5x72.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Moses Holding the Ten Commandments)

Silver Gilt Binding, Depicting the Crucifixion of Christ
986210 Silver Gilt Binding, Depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, with the Holy Mother of God and Holy Mary on Either Side, 1669 (silver gilt repousse binding, red leather)

Treillet-Nathan, Valentine (engraving)
5198383 Treillet-Nathan, Valentine (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Treillet-Nathan, Valentine)

Mary & Joseph before Cyremius enrolling for the taxation, with a guard
JB119635 Mary & Joseph before Cyremius enrolling for the taxation, with a guard, a scribe and an officer, c. 14th century (mosaic) (detail of 119636) by Byzantine, (14th century); Kariye Camii

The Young Poet (Youth Transcribing Homer) (oil on panel)
SOU112504 The Young Poet (Youth Transcribing Homer) (oil on panel) by Moreelse, Johann (1602-1634); 70.5x54.3 cm; Southampton City Art Gallery, Hampshire

Guild of Fish Sellers (vellum)
XIR174480 Guild of Fish Sellers (vellum) by Italian School, (14th century); Museo Correr, Venice, Italy; (add.info.: fish vendors corporation; ); Italian, out of copyright

Interview with the Viceroy of Egypt at his palace at Alexandria, May 12th 1839
STC67200 Interview with the Viceroy of Egypt at his palace at Alexandria, May 12th 1839, from " Egypt and Nubia", Vol.3 (litho) by Roberts

Christ and the Adulteress
FTB60376 Christ and the Adulteress by Marconi, Rocco (c.1470/5-1529); Gallerie dell Accademia, Venice, Italy; Italian, out of copyright

St. Gregory writing with scribes below, Franco-German School, c. 850-875 (ivory)
XAM74832 St. Gregory writing with scribes below, Franco-German School, c.850-875 (ivory) by Carolingian School (9th century); Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria; out of copyright

Saints John the Evangelist and Mark discussing their Writings (oil on canvas)
CRS225660 Saints John the Evangelist and Mark discussing their Writings (oil on canvas) by Strozzi, Bernardo (1581-1644); Corsham Court, Wiltshire; Italian, out of copyright

Sarcophagus of Imenhetep, from Touna el Gebel, 1st century BC - 1st century AD
REV346650 Sarcophagus of Imenhetep, from Touna el Gebel, 1st century BC - 1st century AD, (painted and gilded fig wood, cartonnage, stuccoed linen) by Egyptian

Mlle. Anne Benoite Louise Lavoye as Zerlina
Soprano opera singer Anne Benoite Louise Lavoye as Zerlina in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Marius-Pierre Audran as Scipion in La Sirene, 1844
Tenor singer Marius-Pierre Audran as Scipion in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Mlle Zoe Prevost as Mathea in La Sirene, 1844
Soprano opera singer Mlle Zoe Prevost as Mathea in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Achille Ricquier as the Duke of Popoli in La Sirene, 1844
Basse bouffe (comic opera singer) Achille Ricquier as the Duke of Popoli in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Opera singer Henri as Bolbaya in La Sirene, 1844
Opera singer Henri as Bolbaya in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by Victor Dollet from Galerie

French soprano Anne Lavoye as Zerlina in La Sirene, 1844
French soprano Anne-Benoite-Louise Lavoye as Zerlina in La Sirene by Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de L Opera Comique, 1844

Tenor singer Roger as Scopetto in La Sirene, 1844
Tenor singer Gustave-Hippolyte Roger as Scopetto in La Sirene by Daniel Auber and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Madame Potier as Cecile in Cagliostro, 1844
Opera singer Anne Suzanne Potier as Cecile in Cagliostro by Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royale de l Opera Comique, 1844. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by Victor Dollet from Galerie

French singer Jean-Baptiste Chollet in the comic opera Cagliostro by Adolphe Adame, Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1844

Opera singer Anna Thillon as Coriali in Cagliostro, 1843
Opera singer Anna Thillon as Coriali in Cagliostro, Act III, by Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1843. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by Victor Dollet from Galerie

Julien Deschamps as the Chevalier in Irene
French actor Julien Deschamps as the Chevalier de Montaran in Irene ou Le Magnetisme by Eugene Scribe and Lockroy, Theatre du Gymnase Dramatique, 1847

Mlle Rose Cheri in Irene ou Le Magnetisme, 1847
French actress Rose Marie Cizos or Rose Cheri in Irene ou Le Magnetisme by Eugene Scribe and Lockroy, Theatre du Gymnase Dramatique, 1847

Hermann-Leon as the Regent in Ne Touchez pas
Baritone opera singer Leonard Hermann-Leon (1814-1858) as the Regent in Ne Touchez pas a la Reine by Xavier Boisselot and Eugene Scribe, Theatre Royal de l Opera Comique, 1847

Mlle. Rose Cheri as Christian in La Loi Salique, 1845
French actress Rose-Marie Cizos or Mlle. Rose Cheri as Christian in La Loi Salique by Eugene Scribe, Theatre du Gymnase Dramatique, 1845

Jean-Marie Joseph Geoffroy as Pierre in L Image, 1845
Jean-Marie Joseph Geoffroy in the role of Pierre in Eugene Scribes L Image, Gymnase Dramatique, 1845. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by Alexandre Lacauchie from Victor Dollets Galerie

Madame Charlotte Doche as Madeleine in L Image, 1845
Madame Charlotte Doche, Eugenie Fleury or Marie Charlotte Eugenie Plunkett in the role of Madeleine in Eugene Scribes L Image, Gymnase Dramatique, 1845

Mlle. Desiree as Gianina in Rebecca, 1844
Mlle. Desiree as Gianina in Rebecca, Act I, by Eugene Scribe, Theatre du Gymnase Dramatique, 1844. Handcoloured lithograph after an illustration by Louis Lasalle from Victor Dollets Galerie

Abbot Elfnoth of Westminster Cathedral, died 980. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giarre e Stanghi from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World, Florence, 1847

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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.