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Sample of the Book of the Gospels of Emperor Otto III, part 4. Sample of Book of Gospels of Emperor Otto III

Monastery of Reichenau11th century

UNESCO Memory of the World

UNESCO Memory of the World

Illuminated manuscripts from the Ottonian period produced in the monastery of Reichenau (Lake Constance).

These manuscripts epitomize book illustration from when Germany achieved artistic pre-eminence in Europe in the 9th-10th centuries, for the first time ever. The decline of the Carolingian Empire, political consolidation, renewal of the idea of the empire, and reform of the church all contributed to a period of cultural rise. The illustrations reflect the spirituality of the time and were influenced by paintings from Late Antiquity, the Carolingian period, and Byzantium; yet their intention was not imitation but creative new design. The manuscripts expansive cycles of miniatures on the life of Christ influenced art of subsequent centuries.

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  • Title: Sample of the Book of the Gospels of Emperor Otto III, part 4. Sample of Book of Gospels of Emperor Otto III
  • Creator: Monastery of Reichenau
  • Date Created: 11th century
  • Location: Germany
  • Subject Keywords: Christianity, Illuminated Manuscript
  • Rights: Book of Gospels of Emperor Otto III: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 4453: https://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb00096593-3
  • Medium: Manuscript
UNESCO Memory of the World

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