Schuttern Gospels
Encyclopedia
The Schuttern Gospels is an early 9th century illuminated
Gospel Book
that was produced at Schuttern Abbey
in Baden
. According to a colophon
on folio 206v, the manuscript was written by the deacon
Liutharius, at the order of his abbot, Bertricus.
codex
has 211 folios that measure 300 by 215 mm. The text is written is a space measuring 232 by l55 mm. The folios are gathered into quires, most of which have eight leaves each; the first and the next to last quires have only six leaves; and the eleventh quire has seven leaves excised. The majority of the folios were ruled using a hard point. They were ruled two bifolios at a time, before the bifolios were folded. The manuscript has a mid-19th century binding of purple leather.
along with the Eusebian
canon tables, prefaces, summaries and capitulary. The text is written in two columns of twenty-five lines each in a Carolingian minuscule
that has some Merovingian
characteristics. The texts of the canon table, the chapter tables and the colophon are in the same hand.
manuscripts. Folio 19v has a large decorated Chi Rho
monogram to mark the text of . The manuscript does not have miniatures of evangelist portrait
s or evangelist symbols. In their place, there are purple and indigo rectangular panels with borders on which are quotations from the Book of Psalms written in uncials with white ink. The panel for the Gospel of Matthew
has Psalm 67, verses 27 and 29 and Psalm 31 verses 1 and 2. The panel for the Gospel of Mark
has Psalm 33 verses 12-15. Luke's
panel has Psalm 33, verses 9 and 10. The panel for the Gospel of John
is missing.
. The manuscript was still at Schuttern Abbey in the 13th century when a charter dated 1269 for the abbey and the Abbot Hermannus, was recorded on folio 211. It was acquired by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
(died 1759) and included in his library at Holkham Hall
. Folio ii bears the bookplate
of Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham
. The manuscript was acquired by the British Library, along with 11 other manuscripts from Holkham Hall
.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
Gospel Book
Gospel Book
The Gospel Book, Evangelion, or Book of the Gospels is a codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament...
that was produced at Schuttern Abbey
Schuttern Abbey
Schuttern Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Schuttern , Baden-Württemberg, Germany.- History :...
in Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
. According to a colophon
Colophon (publishing)
In publishing, a colophon is either:* A brief description of publication or production notes relevant to the edition, in modern books usually located at the reverse of the title page, but can also sometimes be located at the end of the book, or...
on folio 206v, the manuscript was written by the deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
Liutharius, at the order of his abbot, Bertricus.
Codicology
The vellumVellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
has 211 folios that measure 300 by 215 mm. The text is written is a space measuring 232 by l55 mm. The folios are gathered into quires, most of which have eight leaves each; the first and the next to last quires have only six leaves; and the eleventh quire has seven leaves excised. The majority of the folios were ruled using a hard point. They were ruled two bifolios at a time, before the bifolios were folded. The manuscript has a mid-19th century binding of purple leather.
Text and Script
The manuscript contains the text of the four Gospels in LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
along with the Eusebian
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
canon tables, prefaces, summaries and capitulary. The text is written in two columns of twenty-five lines each in a Carolingian minuscule
Carolingian minuscule
Carolingian or Caroline minuscule is a script developed as a writing standard in Europe so that the Roman alphabet could be easily recognized by the literate class from one region to another. It was used in Charlemagne's empire between approximately 800 and 1200...
that has some Merovingian
Merovingian script
Merovingian script was a medieval script so called because it was developed in France during the Merovingian dynasty. It was used in the 7th and 8th centuries before the Carolingian dynasty and the development of Carolingian minuscule.-Script types:...
characteristics. The texts of the canon table, the chapter tables and the colophon are in the same hand.
Decoration
The manuscript has arcaded canon tables and chapter tables. There are large initials which are decorated interlace, and beast and bird motifs, similar to those found in InsularInsular art
Insular art, also known as Hiberno-Saxon art, is the style of art produced in the post-Roman history of Ireland and Great Britain. The term derives from insula, the Latin term for "island"; in this period Britain and Ireland shared a largely common style different from that of the rest of Europe...
manuscripts. Folio 19v has a large decorated Chi Rho
Chi Rho
The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters chi and rho of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" =Christ in such a way to produce the monogram ☧...
monogram to mark the text of . The manuscript does not have miniatures of evangelist portrait
Evangelist portrait
Evangelist portraits are a specific type of miniature included in ancient and mediæval illuminated manuscript Gospel Books, and later in Bibles and other books, as well as other media. Each Gospel of the Four Evangelists, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, may be prefaced by a portrait of...
s or evangelist symbols. In their place, there are purple and indigo rectangular panels with borders on which are quotations from the Book of Psalms written in uncials with white ink. The panel for the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
has Psalm 67, verses 27 and 29 and Psalm 31 verses 1 and 2. The panel for the Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
has Psalm 33 verses 12-15. Luke's
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
panel has Psalm 33, verses 9 and 10. The panel for the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
is missing.
Provenance
The colophon on folio 202v reads: Ego Liutharius diaconus hunc biblum scripsi ob iussu bertrici abbatis, ad salutem querentibus anime vel legentibus…. The names Liutharius and Abbot Bertricus can be found on a list of monks of Schuttern Abbey from the early 9th century which is preserved at the monastery of ReichenauReichenau Island
Reichenau Island lies in Lake Constance in southern Germany, at approximately . It lies between Gnadensee and Untersee, two parts of Lake Constance, almost due west of the city of Konstanz. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway that was completed in 1838...
. The manuscript was still at Schuttern Abbey in the 13th century when a charter dated 1269 for the abbey and the Abbot Hermannus, was recorded on folio 211. It was acquired by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (fifth creation)
Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, KB was a wealthy English land-owner and patron of the arts. He is particularly noted for commissioning the design and construction of Holkham Hall in north Norfolk. Between 1722 and 1728, he was Member of Parliament for Norfolk.He was the son of Edward Coke ...
(died 1759) and included in his library at Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
. Folio ii bears the bookplate
Bookplate
A bookplate, also known as ex-librīs [Latin, "from the books of..."], is usually a small print or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the inside front cover, to indicate its owner...
of Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham
Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (seventh creation)
Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester , known as Coke of Norfolk, was a British politician and agricultural reformer. Born to Wenman Coke, Member of Parliament for Derby and his wife Elizabeth, Coke was educated at several schools, including Eton College, before undertaking a Grand Tour of...
. The manuscript was acquired by the British Library, along with 11 other manuscripts from Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
.
Further reading
- Dorez, L., "Evangeliaire exécuté à l'Abbaye de Schuttern (viiie-ixe siècle)", Mélanges offerts à M. Émile Chatelain, 1910, pp. 293-299.
- Homburger, O. 'Ein vernichtetes Denkmal merowingischer Buchkunst aus frühkarolingischer Zeit, der "Rachio-Kodex" der Bongarsiana', Festschrift für Hans R.. Hahnloser zum 60. Geburtstag, Dezember 1959, 1961, pp. 185-206.
- James, C. W. 'Some notes upon the Manuscript Library at Holkham', The Library, 4th ser., ii, 1922, p. 226.
- Krieger, A. Topographisches Wörterbuch des Grossherzogtums Baden, ii, 1905, cols. 917-923
- Lowe, E. A., Codices Latini Antiquiores, Vol. II, 2nd ed., 1972, p. xiii.
- Quarthal, F. Die Benediktinerklöster in Baden-Württemberg (Germania Benedictina, v), 1975, p. 569
- Rand, E. K., A Survey of the Manuscripts of Tours, 1929, pp. 11-18.
- Watson, A. G., Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts, c. 700-1600, in the Department of Manuscripts, The British Library, 1979, i, no. 418.