Gospel of Godescalc

The Gospel of Godescalc or Lectionnaire de Godescalc is a manuscript enlluminés of the Gospels carried out by the scribe Franc Godescalc (Godescalcus, Gottschalk) around 781 - 783 ordered by the king Carolingien Charlemagne and his wife Hildegarde (Alamane, girl of the count de Souabe) and produced by its court with the Scriptorium with Aachen. The manuscript was to commemorate the walk of Charlemagne in Italy, its meeting with the Pope Adrien Ier, and the baptism of his/her son Pépin. The dedication of work with Godescalc and the details of the walk of Charlemagne appear in the poem of dedication (folios 126v and 127r)

The manuscript, a product of the Carolingian Rebirth, is the oldest example of the Carolingian style of illumination. This style is characterized by reasons naturalists in decoration, and the fusion of the Insulaire style (see Livre of Kells, pre Christian (late Classical) and Byzantine art . The artist used techniques of natural illusions to create an impression of volume for the characters, and used elaborate techniques of shades in theobscure ones to give depth to the characters. The Carolingian enluminé style is the oldest style using the Small letter regularly, precursor of the modern small letter.

The manuscript was written with ink gold and money on 127 pages of Parchemin crimson. The Codex is decorated with six miniatures. The four first are the Evangélistes, authors of the Gospels. The fifth is a representation of Jesus on his throne. The sixth is Fountaine of life, or fons vitae.

The specialists are still not agreement on the origin of the Gospels of Godescalc, carried out on a parchment crimson, the royal mark of Phéniciens, then of the Byzantine.

Certain historians locate the composition of the manuscript in an abbey of the North of Francie: Saint Martin's day de Tours was indicated a long time like such, but of others think of a royal workshop with Mainz (Mainz).

External bonds

Medieval Manuscripts: General Introduction - What is Illumination? from Utah Museum off Fine Arts
Art Past Art Present online study guides.
Godescalc biography At artnet.com

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