Book of pericopes (Evangelistar)

A certain Reynherus, one of the Michelsberg monks who copied the catalogue of abbots compiled by Andreas Lang, wrote this book of pericopes, i.e. extracts from the gospels following the order of the church year. The calendar of the manuscript lists saints venerated in the diocese of Würz­burg, while the patrons of the diocese of Bamberg were only added at a later stage. It is therefore likely that the manuscript was originally intended for use outside the bishopric of Bamberg.

At the beginning of the book, the pericope for the first Sunday of Advent, a passage from the gospel of Matthew (chapter 21), is illustrated by Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Accompanied by three apostles, Jesus is depicted riding a donkey; a spring landscape can be seen in the background (fol. 1r).

The miniature is based on a copper engraving by the so-called ‚Meister AG‘. The painter imitated the style of a Nuremberg workshop which cooperated with the printer Anton Koberger, but probably resided in Bamberg.