Plate from an evangeliaria cover with a crucifix

Sumptuary covers for the adornment of the texts of the Holy Scriptures were very common from the earliest years of mediaeval European art. In about the last quarter of the 12th century and throughout the entire 13th century, the workshops of Limoges, in Aquitaine, made several kinds of seriated covers of great artistic quality that were excellently received in the Christian religious centres. These, just like the other Limousin products, may be included within the guidelines of Byzantine origin for their gilt surfaces, the use of the opaque champlevé enamelling technique and, in general, the iconographic and ornamental design of the piece. The plate in the Museu Episcopal de Vic is cross-shaped with broad arms and a circular part where they cross in order to highlight the main feature of the body of Christ crucified and, originally, it was the focus of a composition of pieces applied on a block of wood. The presence of the Crucifixion on the front presupposes the existence of another plate, on the back, where the figure of Christ in Majesty was depicted.