Details

Subject(s)

• Manuscripts, Armenian—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]

Former owner

• Dodge, Cleveland H. (Cleveland Hoadley), 1860-1926 [Browse]

Donor

• Dodge, Cleveland H. (Cleveland Hoadley), 1860-1926 [Browse]

Related name

• Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Princeton Armenian MS 2. [Browse]

Rare books genre

• Silver bindings [Browse]
• Doublures [Browse]
• Decorated edges [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• illuminated manuscripts [Browse]
• illuminations (paintings) [Browse]
• headpieces (layout features) [Browse]
• figure initials [Browse]
• decorated initials [Browse]

Summary note

Illuminated copy of the Four Gospels.

Notes

• Ms. codex.
• Title devised by cataloger.
• Previously listed as Armenian MS, Princeton series no. 2.
• Collation: Paper ; fol. 217 ; modern foliation in pencil using Western numerals.
• Layout: 38 lines per page in two columns ; frame-ruled in red.
• Decoration: Full-page miniatures of the Evangelists. Frequent marginal decorations with a few marginal miniatures. Opening pages of each Gospel have elaborate headpieces with accompanying decoration in the margins, predominantly in red, blue and green, consisting of floral designs and anthropomorphic motifs. Bird initials and ornate capitals.
• Origin: According to the colophon copy completed 1179 [1730] by Nikołos at the Church of Surb Astuacacin (Holy Theotokos) in Bjni (fol. 211r-212v).

Binding note

Contemporaneous? binding. Heavy silver covers with repoussé figures. Upper cover depicts the Crucifixion of Christ with the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, with a prophet in each of the four corners. Lower cover depicts the Resurrection with an angel and 3 soldiers, with an Evangelist in each of the four corners. Lined with red velvet. Floral fabric doublures. Leather flap, covered with velvet. Edges decorated with red and black. Kept in a metal box (235 x 268 x 157 mm) created in Istanbul at the beginning of the 20th century. Box is lined with red velvet and decorated with figures, animals and floral motifs

Language note

Armenian;

Script

Bolorgir

Contents

• 1. fol. 6v-66v: [Gospel of Matthew]. Preceded by an index, and including a full-page portrait on folio 8v.
• 2. fol. 67r-104v: [Gospel of Mark]. Preceded by an index, and including a full-page portait on folio 68v.
• 3. fol. 105r-164v: [Gospel of Luke]. Preceded by an index, and including a full-page portait on folio 106v.
• 4. fol. 165r-211v: [Gospel of John]. Preceded by an index, and including a full-page portait on folio 166v.
• 5. fol. 211r: [Prayer for the scribe]
• 6. fol. 211r-212v: [Principal colophon]. Incomplete at end.

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Provenance

Intermediate provenance unknown. Presented to Cleveland H. Dodge, who in turn presented it to Princeton University Library.

References

Sanjian, A. K. A catalogue of medieval Armenian manuscripts in the United States, 101, pages 419-422.

OCLC

1547169210

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