ID: 700008284 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700008284	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1 2

Gospel Book (illuminated manuscript; Unknown Ethiopian (Ethiopian Illuminator); around 1480-1520; J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center (Los Angeles, Los A...; L.2009.160; Ms. 105)

Note: 218 folios, 13 full-page miniatures, 8 decorated canon table pages, 5 headpieces. The Gospel book, which contains the New Testaments texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is the main liturgical book used in the Ethiopian liturgy, as it was in the early Middle Ages in Europe. This example belongs to a group of manuscripts executed in the so-called Gunda Gundé style. Named after a Stephanite monastery in the Christian highlands of Ethiopia, Gunda Gundé illumination is characterized by a bright palette of primary colors, and monumental figures with rounded outlines and prominent, almond-shaped eyes. Intricate interlace patterns frame miniatures and decorate canon tables. Particularly extraordinary in this Gospel book is a lengthy and unusual cycle of prefatory images displaying seventy-two prophets arranged in two registers one above the other. The first miniature in this series is anchored by the figure of Abraham embracing the prophets Jacob and Isaac. This series of single figures fills four double-page spreads, creating a powerful and graphic expression of seminal biblical authors within the Christian faith. The serial imagery of the prophets in this manuscript was an important visual motif developed in Gunda Gundé manuscripts, and this Gospel book contains a particularly beautiful and lengthy example. The cycle of miniatures at the beginning of the manuscript culminates with a depiction of the Virgin and Child flanked by the archangels Gabriel and Michael holding swords. Veneration of this iconic image was instituted by Emperor Zar'a Ya'eqob (1434-1468), and this miniature represents an early and distinctive manifestation of the iconography. In addition, each Gospel is prefaced by a portrait of the evangelist who composed the text that follows, and each author is shown in the act of writing. Both the image of the Virgin and Child and the evangelist portraits are typical features of Ethiopian Gospel books.

Titles:

Gospel Book (preferred,C,U,English-P,U,U)

Ms. 105 (C,U,MD,English,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

illuminated manuscript [300265483] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), document genres, <documents by conditions of production>, manuscripts (documents))

manuscript (documents) [300028569]

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), document genres, <documents by conditions of production>)

book [300028051]

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), information artifacts, <information artifacts by physical form>)

Classifications:

manuscripts (preferred)

Creation Date: around 1480-1520

Creator Display:

Unknown Ethiopian (Ethiopian Illuminator) [preferred,JPGM]

unknown Ethiopian (Ethiopian cultural designation) [500125232]

Locations:

Current: J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center (Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, California, United States) [500329598] J. Paul Getty Museum, J. Paul Getty Trust, Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: L.2009.160; Ms. 105

Other: Creation: Ityop'iya [7000489] Africa (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Display Materials: Tempera on parchment bound between wood boards

	tempera [300015062]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>, paint (coating), <paint by composition or origin>, water-base paint)

	parchment (animal material) [300011851]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, animal material, processed animal material)

	boards (binding components) [300202819]
	.......(Objects Facet, Components (hierarchy name), components (objects parts), <components by specific context>, information form components, gathered matter components, <bindings and binding components>, binding components)

	wood (plant material) [300011914]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>)

Dimensions: Closed: 36.5 x 27 x 11.4 cm (14 3/8 x 10 5/8 x 4 1/2 in.); 218 folios

Cultures:

Ethiopian (preferred)

General Subject:

religion and mythology (preferred)

Specific Subjects:

	Gospels, the [901001625]
	.....((Bible, New Testament, Bible, Literary works: Philosophy, Religion, Named written and performed works, Literature and Performing Arts)) (ICON)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: drawings, paintings, prints, other two-dimensional media

Sources and Contributors:
Gospel Book	........ [JPGM]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)
Ms. 105	........ [JPGM,VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)

Subject: ....... [JPGM,VP]

....................... J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-) info:getty/object/321212

Note:
English	..... [JPGM,VP]
	..... J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)