Early Illustrated Ketubah on Parchment. Ancona [Italy], 1722, Signature of the 'Shemesh Tzedaka'

Early Illustrated Ketubah on Parchment. Ancona [Italy], 1722, Signature of the 'Shemesh Tzedaka'

Early illustrated ketubah on parchment. Ancona [Italy], 1722.

Specifications: [1] large sheet of parchment. 57x74 cm. Red and black ink.

Description: Ketubah for a priestly family on the occasion of the marriage of the groom Shmuel Moshe son of the deceased David HaCohen, z"l, with the bride Diamanti daughter of Moshe son of Raphael HaCohen, ztz"l. The wording of the ketubah is stamped inside the illustration of a gate leading from a red square, surrounded by illustrations of flowers, birds and butterflies, encased in a blue border. The top part of the parchment is cut in a decorative manner and has a bouquet of flowers with a star of David in the center, with a depiction of the hands of a priest during the priestly blessing. The words "B'simana tava u'vmazala tava maliya l'chatana u'lkalata u'lchol Yisrael Amen" are around the star of David. The 'tenaim' are written in the bottom part of the ketubah in semi-cursive Sephardic handwriting (Rashi script).

Unique Features: The ketubah and the tenaim are signed by the witnesses Shimshon son of Yehoshua Moshe Morpurgo, and Yitzchak son of Yonah Raphael.

Rabbi Shimshon Morpurgo [1681-1740], rabbi of Ancona and one of the most prominent Italian rabbis and adjudicators, author of the book Shemesh Tzedaka. Rabbi Shimshon was involved in several polemics which arose between the rabbis of Italy, including the polemic around the Ramchal's works.

Refer to the Gross Collection catalog of the National Library for a similar ketubah which was written in the same year and in the same place and was also signed by the rabbi of Ancona.

Condition: Moderate-fine. Stain in the top part of the ketubah. Small tear in the top side of the blue border.