Century XI

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Cnut Gospels; 1020

Anonymous, «The Cnut Gospels», call number Royal MS 1 D IX, illuminated manuscript, Canterbury, circa 1020.

Royal MS 1 D IX, Cnut Gospels, folio 111.

Contents and history

This manuscript, containing the Four Gospels, dates from the early 11th century. It is believed to have belonged to Christ Church, Canterbury, and may have been created there. It is named after Cnut, King of England, who reigned from 1016 to 1035, due to an added text in Old English that names Cnut and his brother Harold as brothers of the monastery.

Despite its royal associations, the manuscript only entered the Old Royal Library in the early 17th century, when Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, acquired the library of John, 1st Baron Lumley.

Decoration and inscription details

The manuscript features full-page decorations at the beginning of each Gospel, with initials illuminated in gold, and lush stylized leaves in the borders, characteristic of late Anglo-Saxon decoration. For example, the border of the Gospel of Mark includes stylized leaves and embedded roundels of saints, and the incipit page for the Gospel of John is particularly notable for its decorated frame and gold initials.

Bibliographical reference of century XI.

Classification: Manuscript, English language and In color.

Author: unknown.

Bibliographical reference mentioned in the following article:

 

Dr. Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas,
,
Paseo de la Castellana 135, 7th floor,
28046 Madrid, Spain.