A01=Kathleen Maxwell
Andronikos II
Author_Kathleen Maxwell
BL Add
book
Byzantine Illumination
Byzantine Latin relations research
Byzantine manuscript studies
Category=AGA
Category=DSBB
Category=N
Category=NHC
Category=QRAX
church union diplomacy
codicology
cycle
Der Nersessian
Drapery Folds
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_history
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
evangelist
Evangelist Portraits
extensive
Extensive Narrative Cycles
Flaked Areas
gospel
head
Head Scribe
illuminated gospel analysis
Illustrated Gospel Books
Internationaux Du Centre National De
Janus Lascaris
Kariye Djami
Manuel Holobolos
Michael Palaeologus
Michael VIII
miniatures
narrative
Narrative Cycle
Narrative Miniatures
National Library
palaeography
Paris 54's Gospel
Paris 54’s Gospel
Paul III
portrait
Quire Signatures
scribe
Testament Manuscripts
Testament Text Critics
Theodore Metochites
thirteenth-century art history
Product details
- ISBN 9780367600884
- Weight: 453g
- Dimensions: 174 x 246mm
- Publication Date: 30 Jun 2020
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
Secure
checkout
Fast Shipping
Easy returns
This is a study of the artistic and political context that led to the production of a truly exceptional Byzantine illustrated manuscript. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, codex grec 54 is one of the most ambitious and complex manuscripts produced during the Byzantine era. This thirteenth-century Greek and Latin Gospel book features full-page evangelist portraits, an extensive narrative cycle, and unique polychromatic texts. However, it has never been the subject of a comprehensive study and the circumstances of its commission are unknown. In this book Kathleen Maxwell addresses the following questions: what circumstances led to the creation of Paris 54? Who commissioned it and for what purpose? How was a deluxe manuscript such as this produced? Why was it left unfinished? How does it relate to other Byzantine illustrated Gospel books? Paris 54's innovations are a testament to the extraordinary circumstances of its commission. Maxwell's multi-disciplinary approach includes codicological and paleographical evidence together with New Testament textual criticism, artistic and historical analysis. She concludes that Paris 54 was never intended to copy any other manuscript. Rather, it was designed to eclipse its contemporaries and to physically embody a new relationship between Constantinople and the Latin West, as envisioned by its patron. Analysis of Paris 54's texts and miniature cycle indicates that it was created at the behest of a Byzantine emperor as a gift to a pope, in conjunction with imperial efforts to unify the Latin and Orthodox churches. As such, Paris 54 is a unique witness to early Palaeologan attempts to achieve church union with Rome.
Kathleen Maxwell is Professor in the Department of Art and Art History, Santa Clara University, USA.
