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Durham Gospels

Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom)

Lindisfarne Abbey, Holy Island (England) — Late 7th century

Left incomplete by monks fleeing from the Vikings in the late 7th century, but with a ritual function to this day: every new bishop of Durham swears his oath on this Gospel Book with the oldest depiction of the Crucifixion in English art

  1. The fragment represents the oldest surviving specimen of an illuminated Insular Gospel Book

  2. It was brought to Durham by monks fleeing from Lindisfarne Abbey after it was attacked by Vikings

  3. The other decorative page consists of an elaborately illuminated full-page incipit for the Gospel of John

Durham Gospels

A.II.17 Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom)
Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom)
Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
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  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Durham Gospels

Named after its modern repository in Durham Cathedral, this fragment of a Gospel Book originated at Lindisfarne Abbey or possibly Iona in the late 7th century and was brought to Durham after the monks were forced to flee from Viking attacks. Although only two of the decorative pages survive, they include the oldest Crucifixion scene in Hiberno-Saxon art as well as a splendid incipit page for the Gospel of John. The same scribe responsible for the Echternach Gospels also appears to have written the Durham Gospels, but it is not clear whether this is an incomplete work or merely the surviving fragment of a Gospel Book that would have also contained the Evangelist portraits and carpet pages typical of Insular art. Nevertheless, these thirteen leaves represent the earliest specimen of an illuminated Insular Gospel Book and are thus of tremendous art-historical importance.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Durham-Evangeliar
Date
Late 7th century
Style
Insular
Language
Latin
Illustrations
One full-page miniature of the crucifixion of Christ; decorated initial at the beginning of the Gospel of John
Available facsimile editions:
Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom)
#1 The Durham Gospels
Rosenkilde and Bagger – Copenhagen, 1980
Facsimile Editions

#1 The Durham Gospels

Rosenkilde and Bagger – Copenhagen, 1980
Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom)
Durham Gospels – Rosenkilde and Bagger – A.II.17 – Durham Cathedral (Durham, United Kingdom) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Rosenkilde and Bagger – Copenhagen, 1980
Commentary: 1 volume by Christopher D. Verey, Thomas J. Brown and Elizabeth Coatsworth
Language: English
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
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