Walters Ms. W.540, Gospel Book Letter of Eusebius to Carpianus Canon tables Prefatory full-page illuminated miniatures Gospels Gospel Book Աւետարան scribe Aristakēs Aristakes Principal cataloger Der Nersessian, Sirarpie Principal cataloger Landau, Amy Principal cataloger van Lint, Theo M Cataloger Dennis, Nathan S Cataloger Noel, William Editor Herbert, Lynley Copy editor Dibble, Charles Contributor Bockrath, Diane Contributor Emery, Doug Contributor Noel, William Contributor Tabritha, Ariel Contributor Toth, Michael B. Conservator Owen, Linda Conservator Quandt, Abigail The Walters Art Museum

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.

 This manuscript was executed in 1475 CE by a scribe identified as Aristakes for a priest named Hakob. It contains a series of sixteen images on the life of Christ preceding the text of the Gospels, as well as the traditional Evangelist portraits, and there are marginal illustrations throughout. The style of the miniatures, which employ brilliant colors and emphasize decorative patterns, is characteristic of manuscript production in the region around Lake Van during the fifteenth century. The style of Lake Van has often been described in relation to schools of Islamic arts of the book. Numerous inscriptions (on fols. 258-260) spanning a few centuries attest to the manuscript's long history of use and revered preservation. The codex's later history included a rebinding with silver covers from Kayseri that date to approximately 1700. This jeweled and enameled silver binding bears a composition of the Adoration of the Magi on the front and the Ascension on the back. Baltimore The Walters Art Museum W.540 The primary language in this manuscript is Armenian. 1 - 260v Gospel Book Աւետարան Fol. 1v Զանպիտան գըծագրող սորայ. զԸռըստակէս մաղաւք լցեալս: Յիշեա առ տէր Աստուած ով բարէմիտ ընթերցող: Fol. 2r Սայ է գանձ անկողոպտելի: Յիշատակ և անառիկ մեծութիւն սրբակրօն աբեղային Յակոբին, ի դուռս եկեղեցայց: Fol. 17r Յիշատակ է սուրբ աւետարանս Էրզրումցի մահդեսի Եղիային, և հանգուցեալ հօրն Յակոբին, մօրն Սայիպին, եղբարցն Ալէքսանին, Բարաղամին և Ղազարին, և հանգուցեալ քըւերն Խաթունպակէ, և աներոջն Կարապետին, զոքանջ Աննային, և կողակցուն իւրոյ Թուրվէնտին, և որդոցն Աբրահամին, Յակոբին, Սարգսին, և ամենայն արեան զարմին: Որ ըստացաւ մահդեսի Եղիան զգանձս պատուական, ի թվին Հայոց ռ՟ճ՟կ՟զ՟ (= 1717) ամին, և եդ ի Թօխաթ քաղաքն, ի դուռն սուրբ Պարսամ եկեղեցոյն, զի մնասցէ յիշատակ անջնջելի: Եւ մի ոք իշխեսցէ պատճառանօք ինչ հանել զսա ի դրանէ սուրբ եկեղեցոյս, գրաւել կամ ծախել, կամ գողանալ, եթէ յանդգնի ոք, նզովեալ եղիցի ի հոգոյն սրբոյ: Fol. 78v Զմեղուցեալ գծողս յիշեցէք ի տէր, ով սուրբ ընթ(ե)րցաւղք: Fol. 80v Յիշատակ է սուրբ աւետարանս Էրզրումցի մահդեսի Եղիային, և հանգուցեալ հօրն Յակոբին, մօրն Սայիպին, եղբարցն Ալէքսանին, Բարղամին, Ղազարին, և հանգուցեալ քըւերն Խաթունպակէ, և աներոջն Կարապետին զոքանջ Աննային, և կողակցուն իւրոյ Թուրվէնտէյին, և որդոցն Աբրահամին, Յակոբին և Սարգսին, և ամենայն արեան զարմին: Որ ըստացաւ մահդեսի Եղիան, զկենսաբեր մատեանս ի թվին Հայոց ռ՟ճ՟կ՟զ՟ ամին (= 1717), յունիսի ամսոյ, և եդ ի Թօխաթ քաղաքն, ի դուռն սուրբ Պարսամ եկեղեցոյն զի մնասցէ յիշատակ անջնջելի: Եւ մի ոք իշխեսցէ պատճառանօք ինչ հանել զսա ի դրանէ սուրբ Պարսամ անուն եկեղեցոյս, գրաւել կամ ծախել, կամ գողանալ: Եթէ յանդգնի և արասցէ, նզովեալ եղիցի հոգով և մարմնով ի հոգոյն սրբոյ, և ընդ Յուդայի դատապարտեալ պատժեսցի ի Քրիստոսէ, իսկ խնամով պահօղքն պահպանեսցէ զհոգի և զմարմին նորա Քրիստոս Աստուածն մեր և դասեսցէ ընդ արդարսն իւր: ամէն: Fol. 124v Յիշեայ Քրիստոս Աստուած զստացող սուրբ աւետարանիս զտէր Ղազարն և զիւր որդին զտէր Աբրահամն, և զիւր որդին զտէր Յակոբն: Աստուած ողորմի ասացէք իւրեանց հոգուն, ամէն: Fol. 125r Յիշատակ է սուրբ աւետարանս Էրզրումցի մահդեսի Եղիային, և հանգուցեալ հօրն Յակոբին, մօրն Սայիպին, եղբարցն Ալէքսանին, Բարաղամին, Ղազարին և հանգուցեալ քըւերն Խաթունպակէ, և աներոջն Կարապետին, զոքանչ Աննային, և կողակցուն իւրոյ Թուրվէնտէյին, և որդոցն Աբրահամին, Յակոբին, Սարգսին, և ամենայն արեան զարմին: Որ ստացաւ մահդեսի Եղիան ըզտէրունի տառս, ի թվին Հայոց ռ՟ճ՟կ՟զ՟ ամին (= 1717), և եդ ի դուռն սուրբ Պարսամ եկեղեցոյն, ’ի քաղաքն Թօխաթ, զի մնասցէ յիշատակ յաւիտենական: Եւ մի ոք իշխեսցէ հանել զսա ի դրանէ սուրբ եկեղեցոյս պատճառանօք ինչ, գրաւել կամ ծախել, կամ գողանալ, եթէ ոք յանդգնի և նենգէ, նզովեալ եղիցի հոգոյն սրբոյ, և դատապարտեալ պատժեսցի ի Քրիստոսէ Աստուծոյ մերոյ: Fol. 200v Յիշեցէք ի Կրիստոս զխոճա Ղազարն, և զխոճայ Աստուածատուրն որ գընեցին զսուրբ աւետարանս, և դրին յիշատակ իւրեանց հոգոյն ’ի դուռն սուրբ Աստուածածնին, և իւրեանց ամենայն արեան մերձաւորացըն հոգւոյն և ննջեցելեացն: Դարձեալ կըրկին յիշեցէք ի Քրիստոս զխոճայ Ղազարն և զպարոն Աստուածատուրն որ կրկին նորոգել տուին իւրեանց հոգոյն համար: Fol. 200v, in notrgir Յիշեցէք ի Քրիստոս զՊօղոս եպոսկոպոսն որ կազմեցի զսուրբ աւետարանս, յիշեցէք զիմ անառակ որդին զՅովաննէս Մալազս որ ձեռնտու էր ինձ: Fol. 258r Աւրհնութիւն, գոհութիւն, բարեբանութիւն, գթածին, ողորմածին և մարդասիրին, Աստուծոյ հօր, Աստուծոյ որդոյ, Աստուծոյ հոգւոյն սրբոյ: Որոյ շնորհօքն աւարտեցաւ եռահրաշ և հոգիազարդ աւետարանս, զոր է շաղկապեալ երանեալ աւետարանչացն, ըստ բազմերանգ գունոց ի մի ոստայն անկելով հանճար: Զոր արուեստակեալ անուշոցաց ծաղկանց, և ղեփեցական կազմութեամբ, որ ըստ հոգոյն յատկութեան իմանի: Զանազան որակութեամբ գաղափարելով ըստ յոքունց արփիացելոցն դասակցութեանց, Առ ի յարմարումն եկեղեցոյ յաւդիւ խաղաղութեան գըլխոյն պատշաճեալ: Զի յայսմանէ կատարելութեան: Չորս Աւետարանք ի բազում պատճառ է: Չոերքկերկեան կենադնիք, Մարդ, Առիւծ, Եզն, Արծիւ: Չորս նիւթք աշխարհիս. հող և ջուր, աւդ և հուր, թշնամիք անհաշտ- (Fol. 258v) ելիք և սիրելիք անքակտելիք: Չորս չորք գիր անւան ամենասուրբ երրորդութեան` հայր, որդի, հոգի: Չորս գետք բխեալ ի դըրախտէն: Փիսոն, Գեհոն, Տիգրիս, Եփրատէս: Չորք անգիւնք և չորս եղջե ւրք սեղանոյն: Չորք դէմք սրբոյ խաչին: Չորս առաքինութիւնք հոգոյ. խոհեմութիւն, արիութիւն, ողջախոհութիւն և արդարութիւն: Չորս ծագք տիեզերաց` արեւելք, արեւմուտք, հիւսիս և հարաւ: Չորս բանք աւետարանիս` պատգամ և պատուիրան, սպառնալիս և աւետիս: Չորս բանիւ խօսի աւետարանս. հրամանաւ և խըրատով, աւրինակաւ և վկայութեամբ: Եւ այլ բազում պատճառք են յորս գաղափարին չորեքեան աւետարանքս: Որոյ ցանկացող եղեալ պատուական և կուսակրաւն աբեղայն Յակոբ, և ջանաց ստանալ զանառիկ փարթամութիւնս և զգանձս անկողոպտելի, ի (Fol. 259r) վայելումն անձին իւրոյ և մանկանց եկեղեցոյ: Յիշատակ հոգոյ իւրոյ և ծնաւղացն, հօրն Ումեկին, և մօր Հռիփսիմին, և եղբարցն Յովաննիսին և Մկրտչին, և կողակցին իւրոյ Ջամալին, և զաւակացն Ղազարին, և դստերն Մեհրուբանին և Յովանիսի որդոցն Վարդանին և Սիմէոն, Ներսեսին և Փարուանին, Աւագին և դստերն Հաբիբին, և կենակցին Յովանիսին, Այրմելէքին, և ամենայն արեան մերձաւորաց, և հօրեղբօրն Ումէդին, և կենակցին նորին (a blank space) և զդստերացն Զարմանդխտին և Սանդխտին, և մօրեղբարցն Աստուածատրոյն և որդոյ նորին Մխիթարին: Եւ միւս եղբա[ւ]րն Հասանին և զաւակացն Ղազարին և Հէրանին, և մօրքըւերն Մամխադունին և որդոյն Սադաղին: Արդ (Nine lines are left blank; the colophon continues on folio 259v by the same hand.) Fol. 259v Արդ գրեցաւ սուրբ աւետարանս ի վերջացեալ աւուր և ի սպառեալ ժամանակիս ջ՟ի՟դ՟ թվականիս Հայոց (= 1475) ի հայրապետութիւն տեառն Սարգսի Էջմիածնին, և ի թագաւորութիւն Ուզուն Հասանին որ նստի ի Թաւրէզ: Դարձեալ յերես անկեալ աղաչեմք զամենեսեան, որք հանդիպիք սուրբ աւետարանիս, միով Աստուած ողորմիւ արժանի արարէք զտառապեալ գրիչս, զԱրիստակէս, զփարթամս ի չարեաց և զթափուրս ի բարեաց, զտրուպս ամենայն կարգաւորաց, սուտ կրօնաւոր ձևացեալ: Եւ զծնօղսն իմ, զհայրն զԳրիգոր, և զմայրն զՄուդամ աղաչեմ յիշման արժանի արարէք և Աստուած զձեզ յիշէ յիւր միւս անգամ գալուստն: Ամէն: Դարձեալ աղաչեմ զձեզ յիշել ի մաք[ր]ափայլ յաղօթս ձեր զուսուցիչն իմ զերջանիկ և զքաջ րաբունապետն զՄարտիրոս վարդապետն, զի անչափ երախտիք ունի ի վերայ մեր, պարգևատուն Քրիստոս պարգևէ իւրն զանճառ բարիսն յիւր գալըստեան: Եւ զարհիեպիսկոպոս մեր զտէր Թումէն, և զիւր սրբակրօն քահանայքն, ամէն, եղիցի: Fol. 260v թվին ռ՟ղ՟գ՟ ( = 1644) տէր Գրիգորն աւրնեցին Fol. 260v, in notrgir թվին ռ՟ երկու հարուրին (= 1751) Օգոստոսի ժ՟ե՟ ին ձեռնաթրեցաւ տէր Աստուածատուրի որդի տէր Պետրոսէ [for Պետրոս]: Աստուած ինք կարքին վըրայ հաստատ պահեսցէ: Աստուած ինք կարքին սատանայական փորձանաց պահեսցէ: Fol. 258r Blessing, thanksgiving, praise to the compassionate, the merciful and lover of mankind, to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Through the grace of whom this [exceedingly] wonderful and Gospels embellished by the Spirit was completed, which is the conjunction of the blessed Evangelists, according to the many shades of colors combined into one brilliant tissue. Which is artfully decorated with sweet flowers, and with […] composition, which has to be understood after the spirit. Copying (it) with distinct quality proportionate to the company of the souls shining in splendid light, made fitting for the disposition of the Church through the connection with the summit of peace. Because from this [the Gospels lead] to perfection. The four Gospels are a representation of many [things]. The four living beings, Human Being, Lion, Ox, Eagle. The four elements of the world, earth and water, air and fire, irreconcilable enemies and inseparable lovers. Four the four letters of the name of the Holy Trinity: Father [hayr], Son [ordi], Spirit [hogi]. The four rivers flowing out of Paradise; P‘ison, Gehon, Tigris, and Euphrates. (The) four corners and four horns of the altar. The four faces of the Holy Cross. The four virtues of the spirit: prudence, courage, temperance, and justice. The four sides of the universe: east, west, north and south. The four terms of this Gospel: message and commandment, threat and good news. With four words this Gospel speaks: through command and admonishing, through example and witnessing. And many other representations in which the foursome gospels are imitated. Of which the honorable and celibate monk (abegha) Yakob had become desirous, and sought to receive the impregnable abundance and the treasure that cannot be plundered, for his own enjoyment and that of the children of the Church. As a memorial to his soul and his parents, his father Umek, and his mother Hŕip‘simē, and his brothers Yovhannēs and Mkrtich‘, and his (= Mkrtich‘’s) spouse Ĵamal and to the children (of) Ghazar, of his daughter Mahruban and the sons of Yovhannēs, Vardan and Simēon, Nersēs and P‘aruwan, Awag and his daughter Habib, and the spouse of Yovhannēs, Ayrmelēk‘, and all his blood relatives, and his paternal uncle Umēd, and his spouse [...] [blank space], and his daughters Zarmandukht and Sandukht and his maternal uncle Astuacatur and his son Mkhit‘ar and to [the memory] of his other brother Hasan and his children Ghazar and Heran, and his maternal aunt Mamxadun and her son Sadagh. Well [nine lines blank in the manuscript] Now this Holy Gospels was written at the end of the day and at the running out of this time in [the year] 924 [= 1475 CE ] of the Armenian era during the patriarchate of Lord Sargis of Etchmiadzin, and during the reign of Uzun Hasan, who resides in T‘awrez [Tabriz]. Once more, prostrate we implore everyone who may happen upon this Holy Gospel, devote one "God have mercy" to the afflicted scribe Aristakēs, abundant in evil and devoid of good, the vilest of all the ecclesiastics, the false monk, the feigned one. And deem my parents, my father Grigor and my mother Mudam worthy of remembrance and God [will] remember you at his Second Coming. Amen. Once more, I implore thee to remember in your [exceeding] pure prayers my teacher, the blessed and courageous rabunapet Martiros vardapet, to whom we are deeply grateful, Christ the granter of gifts [shall] give him inexpressible good [ness] at his [Second] Coming. And our archbishop, Lord T‘uma, and his pure priests, amen, may it be so. Fol. 260v In the year 1093 (1644 CE) Lord Grigor blessed (pl.) Fol. 260v, in notrgir In the year thousand two hundred (= 1751 CE) on August 15 Lord Astuacatur’s son Petros was ordained. May God preserve him firm in his ordination. May God preserve him in his ordination from the temptations of Satan [from satanic temptations]. Inscriptions found throughout manuscript; main colophon on fols. 258r-259v 1v - 2r Letter of Eusebius to Carpianus scribe 2v - 6r Canon tables scribe 7v - 15r Prefatory full-page illuminated miniatures scribe 17v - 259v Gospels scribe

Medium-weight paper folios with rounded outer edges; margins trimmed and occasional repairs to fore-edges; significant discoloration of paper folios, especially at outer corners, where partial fingerprints are discernible; parchment flyleaves inserted immediately after front and before back pastedowns

 Foliation: ii+260+ii26.0 17.0 18.0 11.5 Flyleaves and endleaves are parchment, cut from a large thirteenth-century Gospel Book, with text written in upright erkat'agir (uncial)

1(6), 2(10), 3(14,-14), 4(12), 5(12), 6(12), 7(12), 8(12), 9(12), 10(12), 11(12,-12), 12(12), 13(12), 14(12), 15(12), 16(12), 17(12), 18(12), 19(12), 20(12), 21(12), 22(12), 23(6,-5,-6) First folios of each quire on fols. 1, 5, 17, 30, 42, 54, 66, 78, 90, 102, 114, 125, 137, 149, 161, 173, 185, 197, 209, 221, 233, 245, 257; endleaves tipped around last quire

 Bolorgir (miniscule) for the text of the Gospels; erkat’agir (uncial) for letters introducing verses; upright erkat’agir (uncial) for the flyleaves and endleaves, which are from a thirteenth-century Gospel Book Letter text in black ink; frame, rubric, and text divisions in red ink Canon table frames and rubrics in red ink; text in black ink Sixteen full-page miniatures Four full-page Evangelist portraits, four full-page incipits, numerous marginal miniatures; and historiated, inhabited, or decorated initials for chapter divisions Sixteen full-page polychrome miniatures from the life of Christ preceding the Gospels; four full-page Evangelist portraits; four full-page incipits; numerous marginal miniatures; and historiated, inhabited, or decorated initials for chapter divisions; canon table frames, rubrics, and verse divisions in red; Gospel text in black ink Annunciation Full-page miniature Nativity and Adoration of the Magi Full-page miniature Presentation in the Temple Full-page miniature Baptism of Christ Full-page miniature Transfiguration Full-page miniature Raising of Lazarus Full-page miniature Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Full-page miniature Christ Washes the Disciples' Feet Full-page miniature Crucifixion Full-page miniature Harrowing of Hell Full-page miniature Entombment Full-page miniature Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ Full-page miniature Ascension of Christ Full-page miniature Pentecost Full-page miniature Second Coming of Christ Full-page miniature Weighing of Souls Full-page miniature Evangelist portrait of St. Matthew Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Full-page miniature Head-piece and incipit of the Gospel of St. Matthew Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Full-page miniature Siren and historiated initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and historiated initial Altar and historiated initial of a man holding a lamp Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and historiated initial Wolf Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature Bird and snake fighting and inhabited initial with birds Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Lion and inhabited initial with birds Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren and historiated initial of a woman Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and historiated initial Siren and historiated initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and historiated initial Christ Healing the Blind Man Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and historiated initial Parable of the Vineyard Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature Siren and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Wolf and inhabited initial with birds Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Temple of Jerusalem and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Calf and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Lion Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature Bird and snake fighting Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature Mary Magdalene and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Evangelist portrait of St. Mark Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Full-page miniature Head-piece and incipit for the Gospel of St. Mark Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Full-page miniature Fantastical beast and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren and inhabited initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren and inhabited initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Fish and inhabited initial with wolves Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature Wolf Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature Calf and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Blind man and historiated initial of a woman Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and historiated initial Barren fig tree Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature Historiated initial with a human face and floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Historiated initial and marginal miniature Siren and historiated initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and historiated initial Temple of Jerusalem and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Cross and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Joseph of Arimathea and inhabited initial of a wolf Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Mark Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Evangelist portrait of St. Luke Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Full-page miniature Head-piece and incipit for the Gospel of St. Luke Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Full-page miniature Angel of the Annunciation (Archangel Gabriel) and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Visitation Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Shepherd and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Inhabited initials of a wolf and bird and a floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Inhabited initials and marginal decoration Historiated initial of a standing woman and a wolf Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Historiated initial and marginal miniature Male crowned siren and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Historiated initial of a saint and floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Historiated initial and marginal miniature Historiated initial of a man looking and pointing upward and a floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Historiated initial and marginal miniature Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Manticore and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Lamp on an altar Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Sheep Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Bowl of fire and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Bird and inhabited initial of a wolf Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Publican and the Pharisee Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Blind man and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Colt of an Ass Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature Temple of Jerusalem and historiated initial of a crowned man looking and pointing upward Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and historiated initial Cross and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Joseph of Arimathea and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Evangelist portrait of St. John and Prochoros Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Full-page miniature Head-piece and incipit for the Gospel of St. John Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Full-page miniature Historiated initial with a human face and floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Historiated initial and marginal miniature Siren and historiated initial of a standing man holding a serpent Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Floral motif in the shape of a Star of David and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Inhabited initial of a lion and floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Inhabited initial and marginal miniature Sheep and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Bird and historiated initial of a standing man Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Siren and historiated initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Siren and historiated initial of an acrobat Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Sheep and historiated initial of a woman Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Tree and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Historiated initial of a musician and a floral motif Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Historiated initial and marginal miniature Male siren Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature Bird and historiated initial with a human face Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and historiated initial Cross and inhabited initial of a bird Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature and inhabited initial Joseph of Arimathea Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. John Marginal miniature

Upper and lower boards made of wood and covered with goatskin, with a rectangular goatskin flap attached to the lower board to protect the fore-edge; two silver plaques have been attached to the upper and lower boards and are joined across the spine through use of three sets of five silver chains; upper-board silver plaque depicts the Adoration of the Magi in a central, rectangular field, with the figures and decorative elements in repoussé and gilded, with carefully incised details and blue, green, and yellow enamel employed for spatial and decorative effects; outer border is filled with grape-cluster motifs within a green-enamel background and semi-precious gems in the shape of rosettes and crosses; lower-board silver plaque incorporates the same decorative elements and design as the upper-board, but the central scene depicts the Ascension of Christ, with the heavenly background filled in with a marbled white enamel and the earthly background below in blue; inner boards lined with blue linen

 1475 CE Possibly area around Lake Van, Turkey Created in 1475 CE by a scribe identified as Aristakes for a priest named Hakob, possibly in the Lake Van region of Turkey Henry Walters, Baltimore, acquired before 1931 Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest Relevant Works Walters Art Gallery. The History of Bookbinding, 525-1950 A.D. An Exhibition Held at the Baltimore Museum of Art, November 12, 1957, to January 12, 1958. Baltimore: Organized by the Walters Art Gallery and presented in cooperation with the Baltimore Museum of Art, 1957, pp. 12-13. Sanjian, Avedis K. A Catalogue of Medieval Armenian Manuscripts in the United States. University of California Publications, Near Eastern Studies 16. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1976; pp. 296-305, cat. no. 59. Merian, Sylvie, L. “The Armenian Silversmiths Kesaria/Kayseri: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.” In Armenian Kesaria/Caesarea and Asia Minor. Ed. Richard G. Hovannisian, UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series, Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, 12. Forthcoming 2013. Der Nersessian, Sirarpie. Armenian Manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery. Baltimore: Walters Art Gallery, 1973; pp. 45-51, 88-89, cat. no. V, plates 128-160. Thanks are expressed to Professor Bernard Coulie (Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve) for kindly making available his bibliography on the Armenian manuscripts kept in the Walters Art Museum. Merian, Sylvie, L. "Newly Identified Armenian Plaques from Keyseri in the Fitzwilliam Museum." Manuscripta 51, no. 2 (2007): pp. 261-269. De Ricci, Seymour. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. Vol. 1. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1935, p. 762, no. 29. Merian, Sylvie, L., “Notes on Two Pairs of Armenian Silver Plaques from Kayseri in the Musée Arménien de France.” Manuscripta 55, no. 1 (2011): pp. 109-22. Merian, Sylvie, L.,“The Structure of Armenian Bookbinding and Its Relation to Near Eastern Bookmaking Traditions.” Ph.D. diss. Columbia University, 1993, esp. pp. 81-82 Walters Art Gallery and Baltimore Museum of Art. 4000 Years of Modern Art. Baltimore: Walters Art Gallery, 1953, p. 42, no. 119 Der Nersessian, Sirapie. "An Armenian Gospel of the Fifteenth Century." Boston Public Library Quarterly, January 1950, p. 12. Mathews, Thomas F., and Roger S. Wieck, eds. Treasures in Heaven: Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts. New York: The Pierpont Morgan Library, 1994, pp. 150-151, cat. no. 9. Art Medicine Museum Poetry Script Muhammad, the Prophet Kashmiri Horses Walters Art Museum Document Astrology Devotion History Legal Literature -- Poetry Literature -- Prose Liturgy Philosophy Science Science -- Medicine Scripture Sufism Theology Mineralogy Logic Geography Geomancy Cosmology Cartography Fortune-telling Koran Qur`an Firman Palimpsest Prayer Bible Gospels Psalter Missal Lectionary Book of Hours Antiphonary Homilary Processional Horologion Breviary Hymnal Chronicle Maghreb Sub-Saharan (West) Africa Turkey Afghanistan Central Asia Egypt England India Iran Iraq Pakistan Germany France Austria Netherlands Ethiopia Armenia Flanders Greece Mamluk Mughal Ottoman Ottonian Armenian Byzantine Abbasid Qajar Rajput Christian Arabic Austrian Dutch Egyptian Fatimid German Indian Islamic Persian Safavid Timurid Turkish Umayyad English French Flemish Ethiopian Carolingian Calligraphy Colophon Headpiece Illumination Illustration Medallion Miniature Ornament Painting Early Abbasid script Ragini Romanesque Gothic Watermark Grotesques Historiated initial Inhabited initial White-vine lettering Textura Batarda Humanistic Uncial Accordion book Album Book Codex Manuscript Heraldry Saint's Life Drawing Grisaille New Abbasid style Musical notation Russia Romania Charter Russian Genealogy Mass book Prayer book Gospel Lectionary Psalter-Hours Treatise Grammar Gloss Pontifical Private devotional text Gradual Protective scroll Scroll 10th century 11th century 12th century 13th century 14th century 15th century 16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century 8th century 9th century Block book Caroline minuscule Central Arab lands (Near East) Chart English secretary hand Kufic Gothic book hand Original binding Treasure binding Gospel Book Spanish Spain Italian Italy Coptic Scrapbook American United States Maryland Historical Society Friendship book Friendship Biography Judaism Talmud Collection of Sermons Notable Notable binding Liturgical Devotional Scriptural Theological Legal Historical Scientific Scientific -- Medical Literary -- Prose Literary -- Poetry Philosophical Astrological Sufi English Armenian Book Codex Illumination Illustration Manuscript Miniature Treasure binding Walters Art Museum Armenia Scripture Gospel Book Notable binding Colophon Original binding Ornament Turkey 15th century Christian