Gospels of Otto III

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Portrait of Luke the Evangelist from the Gospels of Otto III.
Portrait of Luke the Evangelist from the Gospels of Otto III.

The Gospels of Otto III (Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 4453) is a late tenth or early eleventh century illuminated Gospel Book. The manuscript contains the Vulgate versions of the four gospels plus prefatory matter including the Eusebian canon tables. The manuscript is a major example of Ottonian illumination. It was produced at Reichenau Abbey in the workshop headed by the monk Liuthard. The manuscript has 276 folios which measure 334mm by 242mm. The illumination includes a page miniature of the enthrone Otto III being brought gifts by personifications of the four provinces of the Empire, Roma, Gallia, Germania, and Sclavinia. The manuscript contains an additional 34 miniatures, including four evangelist portraits. In addition there are 12 decorated pages of canon tables, and each gospel is introduced by a full page decorated incipit page.

[edit] References

  • Walther, Ingo F. and Norbert Wolf. Codices Illustres: The world's most famous illuminated manuscripts, 400 to 1600. Köln, TASCHEN, 2005.
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