The Ada Gospels (

Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...

, Stadtbibliothek, Codex 22) is a late eighth century or early ninth century Carolingian gospel book in the Stadtbibliothek,

, Germany. The manuscript contains a dedication to Charlemagne's sister Ada, from where it gets its name. The manuscript is written on

vellum Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. Parchment is another term for this material, from which vellum is sometimes distinguished, when it is made from calfskin, as opposed to that made from other ani ...

Carolingian minuscule Carolingian minuscule or Caroline minuscule is a script which developed as a calligraphic standard in the medieval European period so that the Latin alphabet of Jerome's Vulgate Bible could be easily recognized by the literate class from on ...

. It measures 14.5 by 9.625 inches. The ''Ada Gospels'' are one of a group of manuscript illuminations by a circle of scriptoria that represent what modern scholars call the " Ada School". Other products of the Ada School include the

Soissons Gospels The Gospels of St. Medard de Soissons (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS lat. 8850) is a 9th-century illuminated manuscript and is a product of the Court School of the Carolingian Renaissance. The codex was produced before 827 when it was given to ...

, Harley Golden Gospels, Godescalc Evangelistary and the

Lorsch Gospels The ''Codex Aureus of Lorsch'' or Lorsch Gospels (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 50, and Alba Iulia, Biblioteca Documenta Batthyaneum, s.n.) is an illuminated Gospel Book written in Latin between 778 and 820, roughly coinciding with ...

; ten manuscripts in total are usually recognised. The manuscript is illuminated. Its illuminations include an elaborate initial page for the

Gospel of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew), or simply Matthew. It is most commonly abbreviated as "Matt." is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, Jesus, comes to his people and ...

and portraits of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The illuminations show

Insular Insular is an adjective used to describe: * An island * Someone who is isolated and parochial Insular may also refer to: Sub-national territories or regions * Insular Chile * Insular region of Colombia * Insular Ecuador, administratively known ...

, Italian and

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...

influences. The Evangelist portraits show a firm grasp of Classical style typical of the Carolingian Renaissance. In 1499 the codex was given a rich sculpted gold binding that includes the Late Antique Eagle Cameo displaying the family of Emperor Constantine.The Eagle Cameo is interpreted in the context of Constantine's career by Paul Stephenson, ''Constantine, Roman Emperor, Christian Victor'', 2010:126f and bibliography.

Notes

External links

Portrait of Matthew from the ''Ada Gospels''

More information at Earlier Latin Manuscripts
Gospel Books 9th-century biblical manuscripts Carolingian illuminated manuscripts {{manuscript-art-stub