133-141

The Headpieces of a Gospel Book of the so-called Nicaea Group (pl. 33-36)

Articles

• Βοκοτόπουλος, Παναγιώτης Λ.
• ΒΟΚΟΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ, Παναγιώτης Λ.

The Gospel book No 9 in Mytilene, an early thirteenth century manuscript, which will be published by the author, is one of the three mostprofusely illustrated specimens of the so-called Nicaea Group. Of itstitle miniatures, the one preceding the Gospel of Mark (PI. 34) is decorated with a bust of Christ and is typical for headpieces of that group.On the contrary, the title miniatures of the three other Gospels are decorated with rather unusual representations.The headpiece to the Gospel of Matthew (PL 33) depicts the evangelist and two figures, which may be identified as David and Abraham,on either side of a bust of Christ Emmanuel. Matthew is presenting hisGospel to Christ. The first chapter of Matthew is also illustrated withan abbreviated genealogy of Christ in the New Testament and PsalterPantokratoros 49, now at Dumbarton Oaks, and in the Gospel booksW522 of the Walters Art Gallery, Laur. VI. 23, Par. gr. 74, Par. gr.64 and Par. gr. 61. The same two ancestors depicted in the Mytilenemanuscript illustrate also, together with Christ, «the son of David, theson of Abraham», the incipit page of Matthew in the Baltimore manuscript.In the headpiece to Luke (PL 35) the author of the Gospel is shewncollating, while the other three evangelists, identified by the texts theyhold, stand in a frontal position on the right. If I am not mistaken, thisis the only example of a miniature depicting the four evangelists, whichis placed at the beginning of the third Gospel; it obviously illustratesthe first verse of Luke.The fourth headpiece was never finished (PL 36). As in the one illustrating the incipit of Matthew, the evangelist presents his Gospel toGod, who is depicted here as the Ancient of Days. The angel who isstanding frontally on the right represents Christ. The miniature depicts both God and the Verb, who are mentioned in the first verse of John.Λ11 four headpieces of the Mytilene manuscript are related to the firstverse of the relevant Gospel. This illustration scheme occurs in Gospelbooks from the second half of the eleventh century onwards. The headpiece illustrating the incipit of Mark repeats a composition, which isvery common in twelfth and thirteenth century Gospels, while entirelynew compositions, apparently unique in Byzantine iconography, wereinvented for the other three title miniatures.

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• http://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/deltion/article/view/4544
• http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/dchae.873