Miniature Excised from a Gospel Book: The Symbol of St. Matthew (recto) and Canon Tables (verso)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Miniature Excised from a Gospel Book: The Symbol of St. Matthew (recto) and Canon Tables (verso)

Date
c. 1125–1150
Medium
ink and tempera on vellum
Culture
Italy, Florence, 12th century
Department
Medieval Art
Institution
Cleveland Museum of Art

This initial L, for Liber generationis... (The book of the generation of Jesus Christ...), originally served as an introduction to the Gospel of St. Matthew. Unlike the Helmarshausen illuminator, who painted an actual portrait bust of St. Matthew (displayed nearby), this artist chose to paint within the letter the Evangelist's symbol, a winged man holding a book.

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