While the front cover is sure to make visitors gawk, one cannot forget that the text in the lindau gospel is also exceptionally beautiful. The magnificent upper cover of the lindau gospels can be fitted more closely than the lower cover into a recognized tradition of carolingian goldsmiths work. Gall, the beginnings of the four gospels are nevertheless distinguished through sumptuous doublepage spreads, which feature the opening words of the respective gospel text. The back cover of the lindau gospels is one of the largely intact examples of insular metal book covers from the early medieval period. The landau gospel has a valuable book cover of gold and jewels. This manuscript gospel lectionary, probably made at regensburg in the eleventh century, is covered with a treasure binding, the front cover of which includes silver, copper gilt, ivory, and rock crystal. I have been collecting them for this reason, along with other beautiful designs, as some of the most beautiful ones from the book of kells or medieval times are no longer being made. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Reading and thinking journal think about it chapter 15. Carolingian art lindau gospels front cover, crucifixion ce gold and gems jesus is still alive, but free from fear and pain to show triumph over death, and book is heavily decorated to show that the word is the treasure. The unusual crucifixion scene on the upper cover of the lindau gospels, produced during the reign of charles the bald 840877, has long defied full explanation. The lindau gospel was one of the few gospel covers that survived. Although the precise date and origin of the back cover remain mysterious, it has been suggested that it was made around.
Gall before 883, and decorated by him with gold silver and precious stones. Matthew in the coronation gospels and ebbo gospels article. Denis morgan library and museum, new york speakers. This classical tradition can be seen in how the cloth around jesus waist folds and drapes. The crucified christ on the cover of the lindau gospels has a book cover of gold and jewels, signifying value and treasure. The back cover is the oldest and was produced in the late 8th century or early 9th century. Collection of the pierpont morgan library, new york. This bejeweled example depicts the crucified christ and comes from charlemagnes workshop.
Compare the renderings of the crucified christ on the. The upper cover of the book was produced late in the 9th. The lindau gospels binding was designed to inspire awe when the book was carried in processions or displayed on an altar. Cover of the lindau gospels crucifixion with angels and. The lindau gospels are the four gospels wrapped up a gaudy cover. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. Learn lindau gospel book cover with free interactive flashcards.
The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was probably produced in the later 8th century in modern austria, but in the context of missionary. Upper cover of the lindau gospels a book cover with a lowrelief figurative repousse scene of the crucifixion. Lindau gospel cover carolingian investment in preservingembellishing the written word, this book cover fits perfectly. Among contemporary works, a miniature in the coronation sacramentary offers particularly suggestive parallels in form and structure and aids in the analysis of the lindau covers reinterpretation of early carolingian crucifixion. The book contains the books of matthew, mark, luke, and john along with maybe a calendar or litany. Behind the cover is a blog series about the origins of our designs. Morgans collection, is an important survivor of medieval religious and decorative art. The central figure of christ is in relief, surrounded by jeweled walls of heaven. This sense of majesty extended even to the back cover, the jewelled design of which is reproduced on our lindau journal cover. The covers architectural features allude to the jeweled heavenly jerusalem, the city made possible by christs sacrifice. All of which have particular reference to heaven as depicted in the book of revelation. Lindau lindau gospels hardcover journals paperblanks.
Ca crucifixion front cover of the lindau gospels from saint. The angled display of the lindau gospels, coupled with the improved lighting, allows visitors to see the threedimensional details on the front cover, which was made circa 870880 a. The lindau gospels is held within a beautiful jewel encrusted and gold covering called crucifixion and mourning figures. John scottus eriugena and the upper cover of the lindau gospels. Front cover of the lindau gospels, french circa 870 1185x1600 close.
The gero crucifix uses a byzantine representation of christ as a bearded adult. Oct 14, 20 jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels, c. It is one of three major pieces ascribed to a court school of charles the bald regn. Essay on joan lindau gospel images of the maid links home. Steven zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of a jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels.
Although the lindau gospels lacks portraits of the evangelists, as do several other examples of gospel books from st. I wonder what part of the story we lose with this beautiful, gleaming, physically strong christ erect on his cross. The composition also centres on a cross, but here a whole crucifixion scene. Gems frame a gold crucifixion scene at the center of the cover. Study 4 cover of the lindau gospels crucifixion with angels and mourning figures flashcards from john m. This is the codex aureus of freckenhorst, which is an 11th century gospel book. Over jesus head there is a personification of the sun and moon in anguish. Named after the abbey of lindau, on lake constance, germany, where it was once housed, the lindau gospels rank as one of the great masterpieces from the collection of the morgan.
Lindau gospels cover, smarthistory it cannot be said with any certainty when, where and how the three main elements of the book in its present state came together. Cover of the lindau gospels crucificion and mourning figures. The lindau gospels, one of the great treasures of early. The provenance of the lindau gospels upper cover is, unfortunately, much less clear. The cover is made of gold with additions of precious jewels and pearls. Ca crucifixion front cover of the lindau gospels from. The lindau gospels in brilliant light medieval histories. Treasure binding of a gospel book treasures of heaven. Gospel evagelio in greek meaning the good news is the timeless record of christ s life and teaching as the evangelists, mathew, john, luke and mark wrote. The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was. A large gold repousse crucifixion dominates this jeweled cover. Contrast the christ figures on the lindau gospels book cover and the gero crucifix. Describe the image on the front cover and the way that the figure is represented. The elements of the lindau gospels were made at different periods in history.
The positive imaging done through the gold is called repousse, meaning that the figure is hammered from the inside. Lindau gospel book cover the lindau gospel book cover is a signatory representative of the early and mid 9th century due to its quality to compel and garner admiration from the common masses. In 1899, pierpont morgan purchased the lindau gospels from the heirs of the 4th earl of ashburnham. It was bought by john pierpoint morgan and was his first major manuscript purchase. Although a few motherofpearl remains, with some pieces of jade, turquoise and amethyst, most of the stones have been prized out with a knife, which does leave. Jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels charles the bald. The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was probably produced in the later 8th century in. Like most romanesque art, the lindau gospels showed striking colors, intricate patterns and meticulous artsmanship, usage of gems, and metalwork. The surrounding gems appear in a plant motif, something not unusual for the carolingian period.
Although book covers were sometimes heavily reworked in the nineteenth century, many examples were altered in the fifteenth or the sixteenth century, such as the famous lindau gospels in the pierpont morgan library ms m. Although the precise date and origin of the back cover remain mysterious, it has been suggested that it was made around salzburg during the time of bishop virgilius d. Jul, 2017 gems frame a gold crucifixion scene at the center of the cover. The front cover of the lindau gospels crucifixion and mourning figures. It is rare to get a ninth century book where the original jewelled cover is still attached to the book. Second, the manuscript has two covers with precious stones instead of one, as usual. The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was probably produced in the later 8th century in modern austria, but in the. Nov 23, 2017 compare the renderings of the crucified christ on the cover of the lindau gospelsart history marilyn stokstad and michael w. Lindau gospels cover video carolingian khan academy.
Carolingian 1122 nave of the church of saint cyriakus, gernrode, germany, 961973. However, this presentation of the lindau gospel hinders a view of the often forgotten back cover, which is the oldest jeweled binding in the morgan. Crucifixion, front cover of lindau gospels, saint gall, switzerland, 870 ce, goldprecious stonespearls, etc. The text may well be the gospel book commissioned by hartmut, abbot of st gall between 872883, which is a plausible date for the text. Carolingian 1116 crucifixion front cover of the lindau gospels, from saint gall, switzerland, ca. Angels fly above the cross, personifications of the sun and the moon sleep above.
Once a work of that scale is done i cant imagine the. The book is an important work of art from the medieval era and has an illuminated text and its jewel encrusted covers. Jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels court school. The binding of the lindau gospels was designed in the late 8th century to inspire awe when the book was carried in processions or displayed on an altar. The book was made of mostly gold and pearls, making it a very. Although both images show christ upon the cross, the similarity ends there. Jewel encrusted lindau gospel book covers coursework 1100 words. Apr 09, 20 jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels, c.
The lindau gospels is an illuminated manuscript in the morgan library in new york, which is important for its illuminated text, but still more so for its treasure binding, or metalwork covers, which are of different periods. The lindau gospels book cover depicts an early christian representation of a youthful christ. What further separates this piece as one of being one of unequalled importance is the fact that it did not belong to a wealthy aristocrat or courtesan, it was created for the procession, for the church going masses to look at with awe 17. Crucifixion, front cover of the lindau gospel, carolingian. Choose from 12 different sets of lindau gospel book cover flashcards on quizlet. Compare the renderings of the crucified christ on the cover. The centre piece is christ on the cross in gold, standing proud from the surface. Crucifixion, front cover of lindau gospels, saint gall.
The cover exemplifies the attributes of many other works from its period. Golden books the lindau gospels and others patricia. Jesus looks wide eyed, standing straight, in a classical. The lindau gospels are something of an historical anomaly. Book cover for the lindau gospels 1057 words 123 help me.
The book cover for the lindau gospels is just one of many ornate, religious, and portable works of art that the carolingians created. The cover was created circa 870 for the lindau gospels, with the main focus of the cover being the crucifixion of christ. Many colored gemstones as well as pearls of different sizes create a border around the cover as well as create a cruciform shape surrounding jesus christ on the cross. The front cover of the lindau gospels crucifixion and. The lindau gospel takes my breath away, and everyone who sees it wants me to give it to them for their birthday or christmas. We have already noted the attempt to identify this volume with the gospels commissioned by abbot hartmut of st. This is what some jewelled book covers are like now. The lindau cover depicts christ, seemingly floating in an ethereal sea of unparalleled wealth, seemingly dismissing any cover rendered before it. The cover of the lindau gospel is completely encrusted with opulent jewels, pearls and gold. John scottus eriugena and the upper cover of the lindau gospels jeannemarie musto bryn mawr college abstract the unusual crucifixion scene on the upper cover of the lindau gospels, produced during the reign of charles the bald 840877, has long defied full explanation.
Crucifixion, front cover of the lindau gospels, from saint gall, switzerland, ca. Really, there are so very few medieval book covers that survive, so when we get a good one like this it is really something that is very special. Over jesus head personifications of the sun and moon hide their faces in anguish. The back cover, in particular, stands out as a piece of bookmaking masterwork and we are honoured to reproduce it for our lindau gospels series. Among contemporary works, a miniature in the coronation sacramentary. This cover is made with a wonderful interlace of silver and gold in a similar manner to the art in the lindisfarne gospels and its style resembles that of the tassilo chalice, an anglosaxon work also executed in europe in the medieval erawilson 34. Dating to the late eighth century, the back cover is the earliest component of the book and was likely made in the region around salzburg austria.
The crucifixion was a popular subject matter for medieval book covers. The back cover was actually taken from another book and i can see the front cover being crafted specifically for the manuscrip. Front cover of the lindau gospels, french circa 870. The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was pro. The lindau gospel book cover is a signatory representative of the early and mid 9th century due to its quality to compel and garner admiration from the common masses.
Lindau gospels cover history and appreciation of art i. Crucifixion with angels and mourning figures, outer cover of. The same basic elements are present in each cover the cross, a portrait of christ, precious materiality as befitting the early medieval tradition of gospel covers, yet their appearances are strikingly different. Steven zucker jeweled upper cover of the lindau gospels, c. Compare the renderings of the crucified christ on the cover of the lindau gospels figure 1521 and the gero crucifix figure 1524. The central figure of christ, done in a repousse relief, is surrounded by a jeweled arcade jeweled walls of heaven. Schutz explains that the back cover of the lindau gospels was created between 770 and 830 xiii.
First of all, the metalwork covers and treasure binding of the lindau gospels do not belong to one period of time. Carolingian 1118 interior of the palatine chapel of charlemagne, aachen, germany, 792805. Front cover of the lindau gospels, made in france, ca. Compare the renderings of the crucified christ on the cover of the lindau gospelsart history marilyn stokstad and michael w. Crucifixion with angels and mourning figures, outer cover. The covering has a reproduction of christ s crucifixion and resurrection surrounded with the figures of the four evangelists. John scottus eriugena and the upper cover of the lindau. Encrusted in jewels and gold portraying christ as a strong figure who feels no. Cover of the lindau gospels by nathaniel brantley on prezi. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. Jewel encrusted lindau gospel book covers coursework. The lindau gospels is a wellknown illuminated manuscript that is peculiar from historical point of view in several aspects.
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