Single Leaf from a Gospel Book with a  Portrait of Saint Luke

Description

Gospels are important Christian texts recounting the life of Christ, written by four disciples known as the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Gospel manuscripts across the medieval Christian world placed their portraits before their writings. This Ethiopian example shows Saint Luke, seated and holding writing accessories. Scholars associate the elongated face and supple lines of his garments with the Gundä Gunde Monastery in the northern Tigray region, well known for its artistic production. The monk who likely made this painting included Saint Luke’s name in the eastern African Ge’ez language (ሉቃስ, Lukas) and his symbol (the ox) at the top of the page.

Provenance

(Bruce Ferrini Rare Books, Akron, Oh), sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-1999); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh (1999-)

Single Leaf from a Gospel Book with a Portrait of Saint Luke

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c. 1440–80

Accession Number

1999.212

Medium

ink and tempera on vellum

Dimensions

Sheet: 37 x 25 cm (14 9/16 x 9 13/16 in.)

Classification

Manuscript

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund