Artworks
Four Gospels with Kephalaia, 1156
Illuminated manuscript in Greek on vellum and paper, written by Manuel Hagiostephanites for John of Crete
224 x 162 mm. 342 (vellum) + 11 (paper) leaves, with 4 large illuminated initials (1 historiated), 4 half-page, and 4 full-page miniatures
f. 101v: Mark
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Four Gospels with Kephalaia, 1156
Illuminated manuscript in Greek on vellum and paper, written by Manuel Hagiostephanites for John of Crete
224 x 162 mm. 342 (vellum) + 11 (paper) leaves, with 4 large illuminated initials (1 historiated), 4 half-page, and 4 full-page miniatures
f. 165v: Luke
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Four Gospels with Kephalaia, 1156
Illuminated manuscript in Greek on vellum and paper, written by Manuel Hagiostephanites for John of Crete
224 x 162 mm. 342 (vellum) + 11 (paper) leaves, with 4 large illuminated initials (1 historiated), 4 half-page, and 4 full-page miniatures
f. 166: Birth of St. John the Baptist
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Four Gospels with Kephalaia, 1156
Illuminated manuscript in Greek on vellum and paper, written by Manuel Hagiostephanites for John of Crete
224 x 162 mm. 342 (vellum) + 11 (paper) leaves, with 4 large illuminated initials (1 historiated), 4 half-page, and 4 full-page miniatures
f. 102: Baptism of Christ
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This copy of the Gospels contain a Byzantine version of the text. Its patron, John of Crete, was obviously less interested in a luxury copy for public display than in the text itself, which he apparently preferred to study in private. The portraits of the Evangelists are not without special interest in this manuscript, as Matthew, Mark, and Luke are associated with symbols, which is rare in Byzantine miniature painting.
This work is now in the collection of the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
