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Single Leaf from a Gospel Book with a Portrait of Saint Luke
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Christianity arrived in Ethiopia during the 300s CE, well before reaching northern Europe. Typical of panel and manuscript painting in Ethiopia, this leaf is decorated with bright colors and a joyous interplay of geometric pattern. The full-page miniature depicts the evangelist Luke, with his symbol, the ox, within the arch above. The short text is in the Ge‘ez (the centuries-old church language of Ethiopian Orthodoxy) and consists of the opening lines of the gospel of Luke: “Make this image of St. Luke with this bull––his prayer (offering)––and with his blessings, they were with us. Amen.”
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Tigray region (Ethiopia) |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1440–80 |
| Culture / Origin | Empire of Ethiopia, Tigray region (Ethiopia) |
| Medium | ink and tempera on vellum |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 37 x 25 cm (14 9/16 x 9 13/16 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Manuscript |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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