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Medium quality, with some defects
Inscribed: "The Baptism."
The Holy Spirit is shown descending over Christ in the form of a dove. Two angels wait to receive him when he comes out of the water. The vaguely outlined figure on the lower left is a personification of the river Jordan.
Inscribed: "Saint Mark."
The Evangelist holds an open book with the text of the beginning of his Gospel. In front of him is a writing desk, probably similar to the ones used by Byzantine scribes.
Inscribed: "The Annunciation."
Just as in the image of the Baptism of Christ (fol. 59v), the Holy Spirit is shown here as a dove flying from above toward the Virgin (this detail of the miniature is very abraded, but it can be vaguely seen between the letters of the labeling inscription). Mary is in the process of spinning purple thread for the curtain of the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Jerusalem (Protoevangelium of James 10:2-11:1).
Inscribed: "The Holy Gospel According to Luke."
Inscribed: "The Raising of Lazarus."
The Raising of Lazarus is not found as a frontispiece to a Gospel in any other manuscript. It is not clear why this particular scene was singled out for illustration. Notice how small Lazarus' sisters Martha and Mary are in comparison to Jesus. The man to the left of Lazarus is holding his nose, because the dead body has begun decomposing (John 11:17).
Inscribed: "Saint John the Theologian."
Unlike the other Evangelists, St. John is usually shown in Byzantine art as an elderly man. Notice also the oil lamp hanging above his writing desk.
Inscribed: "Gospel According to John."
The initial letter "E" is decorated with two falcons, a partridge, and a hare. Falcons were specially trained to chase game and hunting was a favorite pastime of Byzantine noblemen (the sort of people who would commission a luxury manuscript like this one).
Light brown leather over squared wooden boards with blind and gold tooling; rebacked in 1972