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This large Ethiopian Gospel Book was made in the first half of the sixteenth century and is written in Ge'ez, the traditional liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Containing eleven full-page miniatures, six canon tables, and five elaborately ornamented harags, or headpieces, this manuscript represents the golden age of what has been termed the Gunda Gunde style, named after a monastery in the district of Agame. The Gunda Gunde style is characterized by bold blocks of color defined by detailed and often delicate linear motifs. Figures are highly stylized and expressive, while the accompanying canon tables and harags are filled with intricate interlace and geometric forms. The manuscript is exceptionally well preserved, and is an excellent and rare example of Ethiopian illumination from one of its important artistic centers.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
595df22d02dd4dab
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
31403
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "31403",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.850",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Ethiopian Gospels",
    "description": "This large Ethiopian Gospel Book was made in the first half of the sixteenth century and is written in Ge'ez, the traditional liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.  Containing eleven full-page miniatures, six canon tables, and five elaborately ornamented harags, or headpieces, this manuscript represents the golden age of what has been termed the Gunda Gunde style, named after a monastery in the district of Agame. The Gunda Gunde style is characterized by bold blocks of color defined by detailed and often delicate linear motifs.  Figures are highly stylized and expressive, while the accompanying canon tables and harags are filled with intricate interlace and geometric forms. The manuscript is exceptionally well preserved, and is an excellent and rare example of Ethiopian illumination from one of its important artistic centers.",
    "provenance": "Monastery at Gunda Gunde, northeastern Ethiopia, early- to mid- sixteenth century; Church of Mädhane Aläm at Mäjate, Ethiopia, 1892-1893 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Private collection, France, prior to 1973 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Sam Fogg, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1998, by purchase.",
    "date": "first half of the 16th century (Stephanite)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.850",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "illuminated manuscripts"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "imageCount": 2,
    "pageCount": 2,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 30,
            "height": 25.9,
            "depth": 8.9
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "Closed H: 11 13/16 x W: 10 3/16 x D: 3 1/2 in. (30 x 25.9 x 8.9 cm); Display, open H: 11 7/8 x W: 16 5/16 x D: 8 9/16 in. (30.2 x 41.5 x 21.8 cm); Box H: 13 1/16 x W: 11 3/4 x D: 4 11/16 in. (33.2 x 29.9 x 11.9 cm)"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "31403",
    "label": "Ethiopian Gospels",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.850"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "31403",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.850",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Ethiopian Gospels",
    "description": "This large Ethiopian Gospel Book was made in the first half of the sixteenth century and is written in Ge'ez, the traditional liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.  Containing eleven full-page miniatures, six canon tables, and five elaborately ornamented harags, or headpieces, this manuscript represents the golden age of what has been termed the Gunda Gunde style, named after a monastery in the district of Agame. The Gunda Gunde style is characterized by bold blocks of color defined by detailed and often delicate linear motifs.  Figures are highly stylized and expressive, while the accompanying canon tables and harags are filled with intricate interlace and geometric forms. The manuscript is exceptionally well preserved, and is an excellent and rare example of Ethiopian illumination from one of its important artistic centers.",
    "provenance": "Monastery at Gunda Gunde, northeastern Ethiopia, early- to mid- sixteenth century; Church of Mädhane Aläm at Mäjate, Ethiopia, 1892-1893 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Private collection, France, prior to 1973 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Sam Fogg, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1998, by purchase.",
    "date": "first half of the 16th century (Stephanite)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/W.850",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "illuminated manuscripts"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_W.850_Clsd3Qtr_TR_T01II.jpg",
    "imageCount": 2,
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    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 30,
            "height": 25.9,
            "depth": 8.9
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "Closed H: 11 13/16 x W: 10 3/16 x D: 3 1/2 in. (30 x 25.9 x 8.9 cm); Display, open H: 11 7/8 x W: 16 5/16 x D: 8 9/16 in. (30.2 x 41.5 x 21.8 cm); Box H: 13 1/16 x W: 11 3/4 x D: 4 11/16 in. (33.2 x 29.9 x 11.9 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
    "cul": "Christian Highland Ethiopian",
    "style": "Gunda Gunde",
    "RelatedObjects": [
        "78137",
        "29993",
        "11184",
        "11693",
        "20297",
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        "21184",
        "31969"
    ],
    "med": "ink and paint on heavy, thick parchment between plain wooden boards with remains of leather on the upper board and red textile on the inside",
    "creator_ids": [
        "6264"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "MSS",
        "BYZ",
        "ETH"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "2825",
        "2059",
        "2012",
        "1958",
        "3061",
        "3091",
        "2444"
    ]
}
Page context
{
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    "url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/CPS_W.850.binding_TopExt_DD.jpg",
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