The Writers of the Word: Christian Gospel Illumination in the Middle Ages

The four writers, also known as the Evangelists, were followers of Christ’s teachings. 

Portraits of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were a typical feature of medieval Gospel books, but diverse Christian traditions took individualized approaches to the Evangelist portraits.

Saint Mark’s Gospel appears next. The simple, gold background of this 14th-century Byzantine illumination suggests that his writing is a divinely inspired, meditative act. 

He is shown here sharpening his quill with single-minded focus.

Saint John’s Gospel famously begins, “In the beginning was the Word.” In this 17th-century Armenian portrait, he receives the divine word directly into his mouth so that he can dictate to his scribe (at right), who writes it down.

All the Gospels contain common stories — and their own unique ones — but each highlights different details. Together, they all contributed to a medieval Christian’s understanding of Christ’s life.

For medieval viewers, his life was a story of suffering and redemption.

Placed at the beginning of a Gospel book, a medieval reader could consult a device known as a canon table to locate specific verses. 

These tables show where corresponding stories appear in each text, and assist a reader in comparing the stories.