Rudolf von Ems

Balaam's Ass, from the Weltchronik, about 1400–10, Tempera colours, gold, silver paint, and ink, 33.5 x 23.5 cm, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Ms. 33 (88.MP.70), fol. 105v, Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program

What’s in Front of Your Nose

Commentary by Bridget Nichols

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This image appears in an illustrated Weltchronik, probably produced in Regensburg, Bavaria, between 1400 and 1410, with a further addition in 1487. It is one of a number of manuscript versions of the Austrian poet Rudolf von Ems’s (c.1200–c.54) compilation of salvific events in world history.

Balaam’s inclusion in a history of salvation points to a positive appreciation on the poet’s part, despite the judgement of the biblical record that Balaam was a bad prophet. We might conclude that Rudolf was looking to Numbers 24:17, where Balaam prophesies that ‘a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel’. Christian tradition took this up as a messianic reference and associated it typologically with the star observed by the Magi.

The artist has shown only the three central figures in the episode—Balaam, the ass, and the angel—and the illustrator subverts the prophet’s dignity in several ways. The viewer is drawn immediately to the fierce intentness of the gazes of prophet, ass, and angel. But while the ass trains her eyes on the angel, and the angel looks directly at Balaam, Balaam’s angle of vision is oblique and suggests that he is not seeing what the ass sees.

Their difference of vision is counterbalanced by the physical similarities that link prophet and creature. The coarse fur of Balaam’s hat is picked out in vertical brush strokes, replicating the hairy ears and straight forelock of the ass. While Jewish men were usually shown by medieval artists wearing round hats tapering to a high point, Polish and Lithuanian Jews were not subjected to the strict identifying dress codes operating in other parts of Europe. Has the Austro-German artist chosen to suggest both Jewish identity and foreignness in this way, consistent with the biblical Balaam who obeys the God of Israel, yet lives far away from the Israelite people?

The angel is caught in flight over the path between schematically painted vineyards. His sword blade points upward, menacingly close to Balaam, but his left hand seems to stretch almost tenderly towards the ass. Perhaps the angel has understood her fear and indignation and is poised to console her by stroking her muzzle.

 

References

Aust, Cornelia. 2019. ‘From Noble Dress to Jewish Attire: Jewish Appearances in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Holy Roman Empire’, in Dress and Cultural Difference in Early Modern Europe, ed. by Cornelia Aust, Denise Klein, and Thomas Weller (Berlin: De Gruyter Oldenbourg), pp. 90–112

Getty. n.d. ‘MS 33 (88.MP.70)’, available at https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103RWQ [accessed 22 July 2024]

Rowe, Nina. 2018. ‘Devotion and Dissent in Late Medieval World Chronicles’, Art History, 41.1: 12–41

[Charles Blakeman window in St Etheldreda’s, Ely Place (1953-1958) depicts the Magi and the angel, with Balaam and the ass in the far left. The star is placed centrally over the angel’s head: https://loandbeholdbible.com/2017/08/19/balaam-foresees-a-star-numbers-221-2425/ ]

 

See full exhibition for Numbers 22:1–35

Numbers 22:1–35

Revised Standard Version

22 Then the people of Israel set out, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many; Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4And Moab said to the elders of Midʹian, “This horde will now lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beʹor at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of Amaw to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midʹian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak’s message. 8And he said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me”; so the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’ ” 12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land; for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than they. 16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse this people for me.’ ” 18But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19Pray, now, tarry here this night also, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only what I bid you, that shall you do.”

21 So Balaam rose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22But God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the ass, and his two servants were with him. 23And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her into the road. 24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall, and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27When the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff. 28Then the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29And Balaam said to the ass, “Because you have made sport of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30And the ass said to Balaam, “Am I not your ass, upon which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your ass these three times? Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me; 33and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have slain you and let her live.” 34Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again.” 35And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word which I bid you, that shall you speak.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

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