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This Bible was commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (reigned 1474-1482), who compiled an extensive library which in its heyday boasted 1.000 volumes. For this purpose he ordered luxurious and lavishly decorated codices that were illustrated in the then modern style of the early Renaissance and dedicated to both scientific and practical themes, some also to religious subjects.
The illustrations in the Bible were made by several illuminators in the Florentine workshop under the direction of Francesco di Antonio del Chierico.
The miniature on folio 27r, shsown here, was executed by Francesco di Antonio del Chierico himself. It occupies the space of two columns and bears the title Exodus. It does not, however, depict the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, but rather their famous entry (Exodus 1, 1). A dense texture of lines and colours covers the parchment of this manuscript. The six medallions set in the border contain stories from the life of Moses.
The two-column layout of this page is repeated on all ornamental pages.
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