Armenian Gospels of 1475

Lake Van region · 1475 · Armenian · W.540

Copied in 1475 by the scribe Aristakes for a priest named Hakob, probably in the region of Lake Van. Before the Gospels come sixteen full-page pictures of the life of Christ in the bright colours and patterned surfaces of the Van painters, and notes written in it over several centuries show how long it stayed in use. Around 1700 it was given silver covers made in Kayseri.

All pages of the manuscript at OPenn

9 pages

Pages

fol. 7v · The Annunciation: the angel Gabriel, his wings spread, greets Mary under two blue arches on a ground of gold.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
Luke 1:28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
fol. 8r · The Nativity and the Magi in one picture: angels above, Mary with the Child, the ox and the donkey, a king offering his gift, and Joseph asleep in the corner.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
Matt 2:11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
fol. 10v · The entry into Jerusalem: Jesus on the donkey, a man in a tree cutting branches, and people spreading cloaks on the road.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
Matt 21:8A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
fol. 11r · Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Peter, seated on a high bench, puts his hand to his head, as if protesting, while the others wait their turn.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
John 13:6He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
fol. 14r · Pentecost: rays come down from the dove onto the apostles seated in a half-circle, and below them, under an arch, stands a group of people.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
Acts 2:3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
fol. 17v · Matthew writing in a book before a city of towers, with his angel bending toward him from the right.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
fol. 18r · The first page of Matthew: a headpiece of scrolling vines with birds and a chalice above, and the first letter held by an angel.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
Matt 1:1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
fol. 81v · Mark, his head on his hand, under striped curtains; a hand reaches down to him from the corner of the frame.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0
fol. 125v · Luke writes at a desk covered with a chequered cloth, under curtains of green and red.Walters Art Museum · W.540 · CC0