A ketubbah (“writ”) is a pre-nuptual contract that specifies many of a groom’s obligations to his bride in the event of divorce or the death of the husband. Rooted in ancient traditions, the ketubbah, the purpose of which is to protect a woman’s interests, was for much of its history a genuine contract, the specifics of which could be modified for individual relationships; eventually, though, the formula of the ketubbah was standardized. Because of the importance of the wedding in Jewish tradition,  it became customary to decorate ketubbot, and these documents are often the most beautiful artistic creations of local Jewish cultures. 

This ketubbah, from Rome (1805), is crowned by a shield, held by two angels, displaying emblems of the families joined in the marriage; these emblems were created by distinguished Jewish families following their Christian neighbors. The dowry indicated in this ketubbah is unusually large, testifying to the wealth of these Jews, also reflected in the quality of the ketubbah’s artwork.