Trebizond Gospels

Constantinople · c. 1140–1160 · Greek · W.531

A Byzantine Gospel book, probably made in Constantinople in the middle of the 12th century and known as the Trebizond Gospels. The opening of Matthew is lost. Each of the other Gospels is prefaced by two full pages on gold: the Evangelist on the left and a scene from his Gospel on the right — for John, unusually, the raising of Lazarus. Two scribes with different hands shared the copying.

All pages of the manuscript at OPenn

6 pages

Pages

fol. 60r · Mark sits before a house with a red-tiled roof, the open book on his knees; his lectern and desk stand ready on the gold ground.Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
fol. 102v · The Annunciation, facing the opening of Luke: the angel Gabriel steps toward Mary, who rises from her seat before a house, all on burnished gold.Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
Luke 1:28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
fol. 103r · Luke writing, with a lectern before him; below the picture, in red and gold, the Gospel of Luke begins.Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
Luke 1:1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
fol. 173v · The raising of Lazarus: he stands at the tomb wrapped in grave cloths, a man unwinds them, and his sisters kneel at the feet of Jesus. An unusual scene to open the Gospel of John.Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
John 11:43–44After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.
fol. 174r · John, shown as an old man, as Byzantine painters usually showed him, sits with a scroll at his desk before a building.Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
fol. 175r · The first page of John under an ornamented headpiece, with the list of chapters in the margin and the words «In the beginning was the Word».Walters Art Museum · W.531 · CC0
John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.