Codex Aureus of Echternach

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Folio 78 recto from the Codex Aureus of Echternach, Lazarus and Dives.

Text page

The Codex Aureus of Echternach (Codex aureus Epternacensis) (Nuremberg, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Hs. 156142) is an eleventh century illuminated Gospel Book.

The manuscript contains the Vulgate versions of the four gospels plus prefatory matter including the Eusebian canon tables, and is a major example of Ottonian illumination. It was produced at the Abbey of Echternach under the direction of Abbot Humbert.

The manuscript has 136 folios which measure 446mm by 310mm. It is one of the most lavishly illuminated Ottonian manuscripts. It contains over 60 decorative pages including 16 full page miniatures, 9 full page initials, 5 evangelist portraits, 10 decorated pages of canon tables, and 16 half-page initials. In addition there are 503 smaller initials. The text is writtien in gold ink. The front cover of the manuscript is an Ottonian treasure binding which dates from about 50 years before the manuscript.

The manuscript was in the possession of the government of Luxembourg before it was sold to the German government in the early 1800s. Today it resides in the german National Museum in Nuremberg.