Gospel of St. Matthew, Gospel of St. Mark — 11th century, second half (c. 1060 (?)); Flemish, Liège, or German, Lorsch (for full discussion see the description at Bibliotheca Laureshamensis)

Title

Gospel of St. Matthew, Gospel of St. Mark — 11th century, second half (c. 1060 (?)); Flemish, Liège, or German, Lorsch (for full discussion see the description at Bibliotheca Laureshamensis)

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 292

Place of origin

Flemish, Liège, or German, Lorsch (for full discussion see the description at Bibliotheca Laureshamensis)

Date

11th century, second half (c. 1060 (?))

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

110leaves

Decoration

Important miniatures.

Important Canon Tables.

Important borders.

Important initials.

Binding

Thick wooden boards covered with leather, with brass clasps (one lost), and two small rings attached; front cover overlaid with brass, with ivory carving let in of Christ surrounded by symbols of the rour evangelists; elaborately engraved flat brass frame.

Acquisition

Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1834

Provenance

Francis Douce, 1757–1834

Title

Latin gospels

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 292

Summary

Comprises:

(fol. 7) 'Incipit Euangelium secundum Matheum', in the Vulgate version, with prefaces, list of 78 capita, and the 'Ammonian' sections

(fol. 65) The Gospel according to St. Mark, with preface and sections: the list of chapters may have been cut out after fol. 67. At fol. 103v is the prefatory Life of St. Luke, showing that there was a companion volume containing the two other Gospels.

The Eusebian canons precede on fols. 1v-52, finely written in gold on purple, within arches and pillars of gold. On fols. 6v, 69v, are illuminated figures of the two evangelists in Byzantine style, and the next page to each is also fully illuminated, and fol. 7v is in large gold capitals.

The front cover is overlaid with brass, and an ivory carving (6 1/4 x 3 3/4 in.) in deep relief is let into it, representing Christ surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists with figures representing earth and sea beneath, in parts damaged, within a border. The flat brass frame is elaborately engraved with figures of Christ, Evangelists, an angel, etc. The whole has been reproduced in W. Salt Brassington's Historic Bindings in the Bodleian Library (1891), plate 2. The date of the ivory and brass may be the same as the writing in the book. See Waagen's Treasures of Art (1854), iii. 97.

On fols. 5v, 1r are lists of persons, often with their wives: the former perhaps late 12th cent.: the latter of about A.D. 1200 and evidently connected with the district just North of Laon, among the names of places being Laudunum (Laon), Guse (Guise), Sanctus Nicolaüs in Sylva, etc.

Date

written in the 11th cent., perhaps in N.E. France

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment, illuminated, binding: thick wooden boards covered with leather, with brass clasps (one lost), and two small rings attached

Physical extent

110 Leaves