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Gospel Book

ca. 825–50
Not on view
Charlemagne and his successors, who valued learning, accorded outsize value to books of all kinds. The Gospel Book, which contained the Bible’s several versions of the life of Jesus, reigned supreme. No churchman, court advisor, noblewoman or king would want to be without one. Its pages and covers were consistently deemed worthy of the highest quality decoration.

In this example, perhaps made for a queen, painted illumination is reserved for the Canon Tables, an elaborate concordance used to compare and contrast passages from the four gospel texts. Here, splendid arcades organize the essential information. The decoration is so varied and lively–to the point of whimsy at times–that turning the pages approximates an extraordinary architectural tour.

[Images of all folios can be found on this object page. Please note that some images are not in order]

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gospel Book
  • Date: ca. 825–50
  • Geography: Made in probably Metz, present-day France
  • Culture: Carolingian
  • Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on parchment; modern leather binding
  • Dimensions: Binding: 11 5/8 × 8 1/4 × 2 5/8 in.
    Other (folio-200 leaves): 11 1/4 × 7 1/2 in. (28.6 × 19 cm)
    Opening (approx.): 11 3/4 × 15 3/4 in. (29.9 × 40 cm)
  • Classification: Manuscripts and Illuminations
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection and Director's Fund, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.560
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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