Gospel Book

Scribe Copied by the priest Nerses Armenian

Illuminator Illuminated by Sargis Pidzak Armenian

1346

Not on view

On loan to The Met

This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.

In this image, the celebrated painter Sargis Pidzak places Princess Femi, daughter of Mariun, queen of Armenia, in first-century Bethlehem. Kneeling, she pours a bath for the newborn Jesus, who already has one foot in the basin. Did such imaginings narrow the distance between Armenia and Bethlehem for Queen Mariun, for whom this book was made? Late in life, Queen Mariun made Jerusalem her home, joining the community of Armenian nuns there and likely offering this book as a gift at that time.

Artwork Details

Overview

Exhibition History

Title: Gospel Book
Scribe: Copied by the priest Nerses (Armenian, active Sis, mid-14th century)
Illuminator: Illuminated by Sargis Pidzak (Armenian, active 14th century)
Date: 1346
Geography: Made in Sis, Cilicia, present-day Turkey
Culture: Armenian
Medium: Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment
Dimensions: 6 3/4 × 4 3/4 in. (17.1 × 12.1 cm)
Classification: Manuscripts and Illuminations
Credit Line: Armenian Patriarchate, Jerusalem (MS 1973)
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters