Until the Braginsky Leipnik Haggadah was acquired for the Braginsky
Collection in 2007, this Haggadah was not known in scholarly
literature. It was illustrated by Joseph ben David of Leipnik in
1739. Like most of the Haggadot at that time, this exemplar is
largely dependent on the copper engravings of the printed Amsterdam
Haggadot of 1695 and 1712. The characteristics of Joseph ben
David’s illustrations, whose work is well-known, are rendered
here in an exemplary manner. The color palette is dominated by
subtle gradations of color and shades of pastel. Frequently
recurring motifs in his Haggadot, based on older models, are the
illustrations of the Paschal lamb, the matzah and the bitter herbs.
Eating these is part of the feast of Passover, during which it is
tradition to read the Haggadah together.
Place
Preferred form
Altona (Hamburg, Germany)
Original form
Altona, copied and decorated by Joseph ben David of Leipnik
