Lindisfarne Gospels

Illuminated manuscriptsBook cultureThe Bible

St. Gregory with the Scribes Late 9th centuryIvory H 20.5 cm, W 12.5 cm

Lindisfarne• Anglo-Saxon Illuminated

Manuscript of the Gospels • Kept at Durham Cathedral• ~ 700AD by monks on

Lindisfarne Island

The Book• Vellum parchmant• It contains the four

gospels from the New Testament

‘Carpet’ Pages

British Library Sitehttp://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/lindisfarne/accessible/introduction.html

Features, Contexts of Lindisfarne Gospels

• Enormous investment – elevation of the book• Cassiodorus, “every line you write is a blow

against satan”• Synthesis of cultural elements• Devotional, pilgrimage contexts• 10th century – a front piece was added -

dedicated to St. Cuthbert & God (saint + scripture)

Book CultureIlluminated Manuscripts

Book of Hours for Roman Use (Collins Hours), Nativity, 1430-40, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Visual, aestheticDevotionalScripture + traditionExegesis; interpretation