PORTRAITS OF EVANGELISTS AND STORY SCENES IN MANUSCRIPT BIBLE NO 2561 OF JERUSALEM

Abstract

This illustrated Bible is a clear testament to the artistic mastery of Marcos Patkerahan. The
cycle of illustrations is unique as the portraits of evangelists with scenes associated with the
authors of the books are placed at the beginning of each gospel. Illustrating the beginning of
Gospels with the portraits of evangelists started from the Byzantine period (VI century). The
earliest known example in Armenian miniature art dates from the IX century (Gospel of Queen
Mlke, Venice, Mekhitarist Library, MS 1144/86). Story scenes began to be depicted from the
VI-VII centuries (Gospel of Etchmiadzin, Matenadaran, MS 2374). But the earliest manuscript
in which the scenes and portraits of the evangelists are combined seems to be the Greek gospel
of the late XI century (Parma, Palatine Library, n o 5). The miniatures of the Bible no 2561 are a
series of scenes chronologically illustrating the life of Christ. Christmas, Crucifixion,
Resurrection, and the Holy Trinity are illustrated in the four Gospels, respectively. This Bible,
where each book is illustrated with the portrait of an evangelist and one scene, stands out as a
unique manuscript in Armenian art.