Scribe Collection (#6)

Tablet depicting four scribes at work, New Kingdom, c. 1400 BC (stone)
XIR158861 Tablet depicting four scribes at work, New Kingdom, c.1400 BC (stone) by Egyptian 18th Dynasty (c.1567-1320 BC); Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Florence, Italy; Egyptian, out of copyright

French soprano Mlle Virginie Dejazet as Mimi in the one-act vaudeville Grisettes by Scribe
6339824 French soprano Mlle Virginie Dejazet as Mimi in the one-act vaudeville Grisettes by Scribe and Dupin at the Gymnase-Dramatique, 1823 by Unknown Artist

The Letter, (oil on canvas)
989597 The Letter, (oil on canvas) by Pearce, Charles Sprague (1851-1914); 56x45.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Letter. Charles Sprague Pearce (1851-1914). Oil on canvas

Saint Jerome in his Study, 1514 (engraving)
877247 Saint Jerome in his Study, 1514 (engraving) by DAorer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528); 24.4x18.5 cm; Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA; German

Yuny and His Wife Renenutet, c. 1280 BC (painted limestone)
3525807 Yuny and His Wife Renenutet, c.1280 BC (painted limestone) by Egyptian 19th Dynasty (c.1292-1187 BC); 84.5 high cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; (add.info.: From Upper Egypt)

Un copiste au Moyen-age (engraving)
2787810 Un copiste au Moyen-age (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Un copiste au Moyen-age)

Fifteenth Century (chromolitho)
2790945 Fifteenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fifteenth Century)

Sixth Century (chromolitho)
2790873 Sixth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sixth Century. Illustration for The Art of Illuminating illustrated by Borders, Initial Letters)

Caesar Dictating his Commentaries (oil on canvas)
704314 Caesar Dictating his Commentaries (oil on canvas) by Palagi, Pelagio (1775-1860); Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44BC)

L Ecrivain Public (colour litho)
3100063 L Ecrivain Public (colour litho) by Leloir, Maurice (1853-1940); Private Collection; (add.info.: L Ecrivain Public)

Fol. 5r The court of Alfonso X (1221-84) the Wise, King of Castile and Leon
XIR83913 Fol.5r The court of Alfonso X (1221-84) the Wise, King of Castile and Leon, miniature from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (vellum) by Spanish School

Statue for the Inspector of the Scribes Sekhemka, c. 2400-2300 BC (painted limestone)
2636863 Statue for the Inspector of the Scribes Sekhemka, c.2400-2300 BC (painted limestone) by Egyptian 5th Dynasty (c.2494-2345 BC); Private Collection; (add.info.: Depicted seated)

Public scribe in Naples, c. 1890 (glass plate)
494195 Public scribe in Naples, c.1890 (glass plate) by Fratelli Alinari (fl.1854-1920); Alinari

Bronze Mount from a Shawabty Bundle : Arm with Scribes Palette
490721 Bronze Mount from a Shawabty Bundle : Arm with Scribes Palette, Late 18th to 19th Dynasty, c.1336-1256 BC (bronze) by Egyptian, New Kingdom (c.1567-1085 BC); 4.9 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art

Ms Czart 1207 IV fol 76v St. Mark the Evangelist, from
CZA228797 Ms Czart 1207 IV fol 76v St. Mark the Evangelist, from The Evangeliarium of the Cathedral of Plock, c.1075 (vellum) by German School, (11th century); 35.3x25 cm; Czartoryski Museum, Cracow

The Judgement of Osiris, detail from a Book of the Dead, Late Period (papyrus)
XIR218216 The Judgement of Osiris, detail from a Book of the Dead, Late Period (papyrus) by Egyptian 30th Dynasty (380-343 BC); Louvre, Paris

St. Vincent writing in his cell at Ferins, from The Trias Thaumaturga
STC214634 St. Vincent writing in his cell at Ferins, from The Trias Thaumaturga, or Three Wonder-Working Saints of Ireland

John the Evangelist, c. 1365 (tempera on poplar wood)
BFM286511 John the Evangelist, c.1365 (tempera on poplar wood) by Giovanni del Biondo dal Casentino (c.1356-99); 62x40.5 cm; Lindenau Museum, Altenburg

The Scriptorium of a Monastery, from the book The Church of England
KW293335 The Scriptorium of a Monastery, from the book The Church of England: A History for the People, published c.1910 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; English

William Evesham Writing (ink on paper)
960764 William Evesham Writing (ink on paper) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Evesham Writing)

Statue for the Inspector of the Scribes Sekhemka, c. 2400-2300 BC (painted limestone)
1111547 Statue for the Inspector of the Scribes Sekhemka, c.2400-2300 BC (painted limestone) by Egyptian 5th Dynasty (c.2494-2345 BC)

The Letter, (oil on canvas)
658464 The Letter, (oil on canvas) by Worms, Jules (1832-1914); 36x46 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Letter. Jules Worms (1832-1924). Oil on canvas

The Letter Writer, 1891 (w / c on paper)
DRE144498 The Letter Writer, 1891 (w/c on paper) by Haag, Carl (1820-1915); 26x32 cm; Private Collection; eDreweatt Neate Fine Art Auctioneers, Newbury, Berks, UK; German, out of copyright

Papyrus depicting a man being transported on a barque to the afterlife by Thoth
XZL148166 Papyrus depicting a man being transported on a barque to the afterlife by Thoth, Khepri and another god, Mythological papyrus of Imenemsaouf, Third Intermediate Period

St John (tempera on panel)
PWI110936 St John (tempera on panel) by Russian School (16th century); Andrei Rublev Museum, Moscow, Russia; (add.info.: Panel from the door of Markovo village church showing the four Evangelists)

Ms 331 fol. 1r Page of text with an historiated initial P
FIT88377 Ms 331 fol.1r Page of text with an historiated initial P and a miniature depicting a cardinal enthroned, from Book V of the Decretals of Gregory IX, from Bologna

Ms Fr 2608 Fol. 295v A Professor at the University of Paris
BNP159904 Ms Fr 2608 Fol.295v A Professor at the University of Paris, from the Grandes Chroniques de France, c.1400 (vellum) by French School, (15th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Bosses of the Senate, illustration from the American magazine Puck
NYH177782 The Bosses of the Senate, illustration from the American magazine Puck, January 23rd 1889 (coloured engraving) by Keppler, Joseph (1838-94); Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Figure of Imhotep (c. 2635-2595 BC) Late Period (bronze)
TFM63396 Figure of Imhotep (c.2635-2595 BC) Late Period (bronze) by Egyptian, Late Period (715-332 BC); height: 12 cm; Freud Museum, London

Jesus is challenged by priests and scribes -Bible
3780523 Jesus is challenged by priests and scribes -Bible by Hole, William Brassey (1846-1917); (add.info.: Jesus is challenged by the priests and scribes)

Saint Paul in Prison, 1627 (oil on panel)
LSE1272612 Saint Paul in Prison, 1627 (oil on panel) by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-69); Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany; Photo eLeonard de Selva; Dutch, out of copyright

The first paper. Papyrus (chromolitho)
973969 The first paper. Papyrus (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The first paper. Papyrus)

Various costumes (chromolitho)
964076 Various costumes (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Various costumes, a 9th century depiction)

Scribe (colour litho)
977826 Scribe (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scribe. After a medieval manuscript)

Library of a bourgeois citizen of the Eastern Roman Empire (engraving)
3647858 Library of a bourgeois citizen of the Eastern Roman Empire (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Venerable Bede (engraving)
3634263 Venerable Bede (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Venerable Bede. Illustration for Beginnings of Biography by Isaac Taylor (J Harris)

Hepatoscopy or divination by the liver, from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub
3614185 Hepatoscopy or divination by the liver, from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub.1915 by English School, (20th century); (add.info.: Hepatoscopy or divination by the liver)

The scribe, Naples
3572370 The scribe, Naples by Sommer, Giorgio (1834-1914); (add.info.: Naples 1870 ca. Photographer: Sommer, Giorgio); Alinari Archives, Florence

St. John & The Angel, c. 1891 (stained glass)
3475570 St. John & The Angel, c.1891 (stained glass) by Brown, John William (1842-1928); St Andrews Church, Ashburton, UK; (add.info)

Sixteenth Century (chromolitho)
2790965 Sixteenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sixteenth Century)

Sixteenth Century (chromolitho)
2790964 Sixteenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sixteenth Century)

Fifteenth Century (chromolitho)
2790950 Fifteenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fifteenth Century)

Eleventh Century (chromolitho)
2790897 Eleventh Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Eleventh Century)

Tenth Century (chromolitho)
2790892 Tenth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tenth Century. Illustration for The Art of Illuminating illustrated by Borders, Initial Letters)

Ninth Century (chromolitho)
2790889 Ninth Century (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ninth Century. Illustration for The Art of Illuminating illustrated by Borders, Initial Letters)

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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.