Evangeliarum from Saint-Amand Abbey, 1180-1200, Illumination on parchment,
251 x 186 mm, Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp.
Anonymous Byzantine,
Ascension of Christ, from
Rabbula Gospels 586 A.D.
Approx. 1' 1" X 10 1/2"
Biblioteca MediceaLaurenziana, Florence
From folio 13 verso.
Originally from Zagba,
Syria.
Chi-rho-iota page, folio 34
recto of the Book of Kells,
probably from Iona, Scotland,
late 8th or early 9th. Tempera
on vellum, 33 x 24 cm. Trinity
College Library, Dublin.
Book of Kells
There are 259 pages in the
Lindisfarne Gospels, each one
made of vellum. Most of the
pages are devoted to the text of
the Gospels, with sparse patches
of ornamentation.
Saint Matthew, folio 25 verso of the lindisfarne
Gospels, tempera on vellum, 34 x 23.5 cm. England.
The scribe Ezra, Rewriting the Sacred Records, from folio 5 recto of
the Codex Amiatinus, from Jarrow, England, ca. 689-716. Tempera on
Vellum, 51x34 cm. Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence.
Saint Matthew, folio 15
recto of the Coronation
Gospels (Gospel Book of
Charlemagne), from
Aachen, Germany, ca. 800810. Ink and tempera on
vellum, 32.5 x 26 cm.
Schatzkammer,
Kunsthistorisches Museum,
Vienna.
Carolingian Manuscript
Illumination
During the early Middle
Ages, most paintings
were found in the form
of illustrated
manuscripts. This
remained the chief form
of painting for
years. Most were
produced in monasteries,
which at the time were
the centers of learning
and art. It was the
wealth of the church
which allowed monks to
copy books and
manuscripts before the
invention of the printing
press in the late 1400's.
St. Matthew, folio 18
verso of the Ebbo Gospel
(Gospel Book of
Archbishop Ebbo of
Reims. 26 x 22 cm.
David composing the Psalms,
folio I verso of the Paris
Psalter, ca. 950-970.
Tempera on vellum, 36 x 26
cm. Bibliothèque Nationale,
Paris.
The Utrecht Psalter was written
in Reims c.820. It is remarkable
for the lively colour drawings
which illustrate the themes of
each psalm. It is was at
Canterbury some time in the
early 11th century, when it was
copied by the monks of Christ
Church, who updated the script
to the fashionable Carolingian
Minuscule, and coloured their
drawings raher than leaving
them monochrome, as here.
The Utrecht Psalter is a highstatus liturgical book written in
Roman Rustic. 33 x 25 cm.
University Library, Utrecht.
Psalm 150, from Utrecht Psalter. c. 830, Vellum, 12 x 24 cm.
University Library, Utrecht, Netherlands, Originally Utrecht
Psalter was from Hautvilliers, France.
Golden Bull c. 1390 Illumination on parchment, 42,0 x 30,0
cm Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
Angel plaque made into book cover, San Marco, Venice, Early 11th century
Book cover, San Marco Treasury, front, Early 11th century
Christ in Majesty, Four
Evangelists, and Scenes
from the Life of Christ. c.
870, Gold set with pearls
and precious stones, 43 x
33 cm, Carolingian Art
Bibliotheque Nationale,
Paris. Cover from Codex
Aureus of St Emmeram
Cover of Psalter of
Charles the Bald. c.
865 Originally from
Saint-Denis, France.
Ivory panel with
scenes from Psalms 51
and 57 set in silver-gilt
frame with filigree
work and precious
stones; panel 14 x
13.3 cm, entire cover
24 x 19.5 cm.
Crucifixion with Angels and
Mourning Figures, outer
cover, Lindau Gospels. c.
870-80. Gold, pearls, and
gems, 36.9 x 26.7 cm. The
Pierpont Morgan Library,
New York. The magnificent
illustrated manuscripts
represented an enormous
investment in time, talent,
and materials, so it is not
surprising that they were
often protected with equally
magnificent covers, which
were frequently reused or
broken up. It is not known
what book this one was
made for. It became the
cover of the Lindau Gospels
prepared at the Monastery
of Saint Gall in the late 9th.
15th-century
bookcover with
10th-century plaque
at center (Arnhem)
Pectoral with scenes
of Scythian life. c. 4th
century BC. Gold, dia.
30.5 cm, weight 2 1/2
lbs. Historical Museum,
Kiev. Greek craft done
for the Scythians.
Jewelled votive crown of
King Recceswinth. c. 653672
Reconstruction of tomb of the "chief" of Morken, Germany. c. 600
Frankish looped fibula.
6-7th century Silver
gilt worked in filigree,
with inlays of garnets
and other stones, 10
cm long. Musee des
Antiquities Nationales,
Saint-Germain-enLaye.
Frankish round fibula.
6th & 7th centuries,
Gold, cloisonne
technique, inlay of
garnets and bluestones,
9 cm diameter, City of
Liverpool Museums
Purse cover from Sutton Hoo ship burial. c. 633, Gold & enamel, 19 cm long, British Museum, London
Purse Lid, Sutton Hoo, East Anglia, England, 630. Gold with
garnets and cloisonné enamel, 20.5 cm L. British Museum.
The Franks Casket. c. 700, Whalebone, British Museum, London
Carved tombstone or
panel from a choir-screen.
7th century, stone,
Gondorf, Germany
On the image there is a
man dressed as a priest.
In the corners there are
Germanic looking griffins.
Two doves with flanking
heads have been taken to
suggest that it is Christ
who is represented. He is
surrounded by creatures
of Paradise as in the
eastern Mediterranean
ivories. The beaded border
derives from late antique
art.
Central part of a closure slab (Christ
beneath an arch). c. 613-620
Adoration of the Magi. c. 745.
Museo Cristiano, Friuli
Tara Brooch (front), from Ireland. c. 700. Bronze with overlay of gold filigree, glass and
amber settings, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
Tara Brooch (back), from Ireland. c. 700
Equestrian Portrait of
Charlemagne (?). early 9th
century, Bronze, orginally gilt,
24 cm high. Louvre, Paris
High Cross of Muiredach, Ireland. 923, Stone,
c. 16' high Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland
South Cross, County Tipperary, Ireland. 8th century,
stone, Ahenny, County Tipperary, Ireland
Map of the VIking expansion
Remains of large rowing ship found at Sutton Hoo. c. 650-660, 26 meters long Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
Oseberg ship of
Oseberg shipburial. 1st half
9th century,
Length: 65 feet,
Viking Ship
Museum, Oslo.
Animal-head post from
Oseberg ship burial. c. 825.
Wood, approx 5" high,
Vikingskipshuset Museum,
Oslo, Norway
Oseberg carriage from Oseberg ship burial. 9th century. Wood, Vikingskipshuset Museum, Oslo, Norway
Wood-carved ornament
(porch of stave church),
Norway. 11th century.
Wood, Urnes, Norway
Sword hilt
encrusted with
silver from
Hedeby boat
burial, 9th
century, metal,
silver.
Two silver cups.
10th century
Scene of Crucifixion
from the "Jelling
Stone". 10th century,
Stone, height is over
5‘, Jelling, East
Jutland, Denmark
Belt Buckle, from
Sutton Hoo, first
half of seventh
century. Gold and
niello, 13.5 cm L.
weight 5 lb.
British Museum.
Book of Lindisfarne, ornamental page, from England. late 7th century. Illumination, c .13 x 10" From monastery on the island of
Lindisfarne, made c. 698-721. (Originally from Northumberland, England). A colophon states that the manuscript was made by
Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne for God and for Saint Cuthbert. British Museum, London
Man (symbol of St Matthew),
from Book of Durrow. c. 660680, Ink and tempera on
parchment, 9 5/8 x 6 1/8“.
Trinity College Library, Dublin.
Folio 21 verso of the Book of
Durrow, probably from Iona,
Scotland