Prof. Bezalel Narkiss established the Center of Jewish Art at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was its director until 1990. Since then he has acted as the Chairman of its Academic Committee and Head of the Jerusalem Index of Jewish Art. During the years 1984-2000 he was the Nicolas Landau Professor of the History of Art at the Hebrew University. His areas of interest include Jewish Art and Hebrew illuminated manuscripts. He was the recipient of the Israel Prize in 1999.