Average Archaeologist

scripsithistoriam:

Folio 125r from the Barberini Gospels: The incipit to John.

The Barberini Gospels is an illuminated Hiberno-Saxon manuscript Gospel Book (Rome, Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica, Barberini Lat. 570, also known as the Wigbald Gospels), assumed to be of a late eighth century origin. The Barberini Gospels contains one illuminated canon table, four Evangelist portraits, and fifteen decorated initials. The book follows a fairly standard format in which each separate Gospel book opens with a portrait of the author and a large decorated initial, or incipit, at the beginning of the text.