Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark (Liège Gospels)
Description
Contents: Gospel of St. Matthew (ff. 6v-67v). Gospel of St. Mark
(ff. 69v-109r).
Material: Parchment.
Decoration: Important miniatures, Canon Tables, borders,
initials.
Binding: Flemish and/or German, early to mid 11th century. Ivory
plaque set in engraved metal. The ivory, attributed to Liège in
the early 11th century, shows Christ in triumph over
personifications of Earth and (damaged) Ocean, with symbols of the
four Evangelists; it may be somewhat earlier than the engraved gilt
metal plate which fixes it to the thick wooden board of the front
cover. Engraved on the metal plate are portraits of the Evangelists
themselves at their writing-desks, with another image of Christ in
Majesty at the top and an angel engraved below. On the left, a
saint in bishop's robes receives (or offers) a book from (or to)
the figure engraved on the right, who is being crowned by a divine
hand; the latter presumably represents an emperor, most likely
Henry IV (crowned 1054).
Summary description by Elizabeth Solopova and Matthew Holford,
based on the Summary Catalogue and supplementary sources.
