The Digital Walters

W.8, Mondsee Gospel Lectionary

Abstract

This eleventh-century Gospel Lectionary was written in a clear Carolingian minuscule in Regensburg, Germany. Its remarkable treasure binding, which is original to the manuscript, is extremely fragile due to the Byzantine or Islamic silk that constitutes the spine; therefore it is not possible to image the entire manuscript. The cover, which alone has been photographed, is a rare survival and a rich example of Ottonian art. Bound in silver, the front cover displays an impressive mastery of filigree, segments of which have been gilded. A variety of textures and substances, including niello bosses in the corners, ivory plaques depicting the four Evangelists, gemstones (now lost), and a golden image of the Crucifixion beneath a polished rock crystal, give the cover an opulence rarely seen in medieval bookbinding. The back cover, necessarily flat to lie on the altar without damaging the decoration, consists of a sheet of hammered and gilded silver, engraved with an image of St. Michael slaying a dragon. This image has traditionally led to an association with the abbey of SS. Peter and Michael in Mondsee, Austria, but its more recent attribution to Otloh, a scribe active in Regensburg, suggests that it is more likely of German manufacture.

Manuscript Description (in a new window) | TEI (XML format) | View at art.thewalters.org

Persistent URLs (PURLs)

The following URLs are assured to route to the named resources. For more information see the ReadMe file.

http://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.8/data

http://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.8/browse

http://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.8/TEI

http://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.8/description

 
 

1. Upper board outside

   
   • W8_000001_800.tif
     Size: 308.9 MB (323,861,745 bytes)
   • W8_000001_300.tif
     Size: 36.6 MB (38,429,227 bytes)
   • W8_000001_sap.jpg
     Size: 1.1 MB (1,111,832 bytes)
   • W8_000001_thumb.jpg
     Size: 16.6 kB (17,012 bytes)

2. Lower board outside

   
   • W8_000002_800.tif
     Size: 308.1 MB (323,037,053 bytes)
   • W8_000002_300.tif
     Size: 36.6 MB (38,417,611 bytes)
   • W8_000002_sap.jpg
     Size: 906.9 kB (928,714 bytes)
   • W8_000002_thumb.jpg
     Size: 13.8 kB (14,133 bytes)

3. Spine

   
   • W8_000003_1105.tif
     Size: 247.4 MB (259,376,619 bytes)
   • W8_000003_300.tif
     Size: 22.6 MB (23,696,635 bytes)
   • W8_000003_sap.jpg
     Size: 370.7 kB (379,600 bytes)
   • W8_000003_thumb.jpg
     Size: 5.8 kB (5,925 bytes)

4. Fore-edge

   
   • W8_000004_1105.tif
     Size: 235.0 MB (246,369,501 bytes)
   • W8_000004_300.tif
     Size: 22.1 MB (23,161,989 bytes)
   • W8_000004_sap.jpg
     Size: 394.7 kB (404,179 bytes)
   • W8_000004_thumb.jpg
     Size: 6.9 kB (7,090 bytes)

5. Head

   
   • W8_000005_1200.tif
     Size: 251.6 MB (263,858,861 bytes)
   • W8_000005_300.tif
     Size: 22.4 MB (23,456,807 bytes)
   • W8_000005_sap.jpg
     Size: 436.2 kB (446,642 bytes)
   • W8_000005_thumb.jpg
     Size: 8.1 kB (8,305 bytes)

6. Tail

   
   • W8_000006_1200.tif
     Size: 262.0 MB (274,688,289 bytes)
   • W8_000006_300.tif
     Size: 22.6 MB (23,668,237 bytes)
   • W8_000006_sap.jpg
     Size: 456.2 kB (467,152 bytes)
   • W8_000006_thumb.jpg
     Size: 7.8 kB (8,022 bytes)