Breton Gospel Book (British Library, MS Egerton 609)

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Folio 8 rect, the incipit page to the Gospel of Matthew from British Library, Egerton 609.

British Library, Egerton 609 is a Breton Gospel Book from the 9th century. The manuscript contains the Latin text of the four Gospels, along with prefatory material and canon tables. The manuscript contains an interesting mix of traditions. The script is similar to the form of Carolingian minuscule developed at Tours, which was one the classicising centers of the Carolingian Renaissance. And although the form of the large decorative letters which form the beginning of each Gospel are similar to the letters found in Carolingian manuscripts, the decoration of those letters is closer to that found in insular manuscripts such as the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels, although the decoration here is simpler and more geometric in form than that found in the Insular manuscripts. The beginning of each Gospel is preceded by full miniature of the apropiate evangelist's symbol. The vellum folios are 32.5 by 23 centimeters.