Creative Commons License
Leaf from a Gospel Book: Jesus Christ with John the Evangelist
(Manuscripts and Rare Books)
This Gospel book was likely created in the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, in the eleventh century. The manuscript is remarkable on account of its exceptionally small size, as well as the high quality of its script and miniatures. Its extensive image cycle includes six full-page miniatures, four half-page miniatures, four historiated initials, and marginalia. Here, a large roundel contains Christ in a pose of blessing, while below the small portrait of John the Evangelist is embedded into the opening initial of his Gospel text.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
Exhibitions
| 2009 | Shrunken Treasures: Miniaturization in Books and Art. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
| 2004 | Illuminating the Word: Gospel Books in the Middle Ages. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
| 1947 | Early Christian and Byzantine Art. Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Turkey, Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 3 7/8 × W: 2 5/8 in. (9.9 × 6.7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.522.231R
