Ethiopian Gospel Book-Getty Conversations

Did you know that Ethiopia has one of the longest standing traditions of Christian
practice in the world? Let’s explore this Gospel Book, which dates to the early 1500s,
and includes textiles, illuminations, and details that tell of travel, trade, and diaspora.
Getty has joined forces with Smarthistory to bring you an in-depth look at select works
within our collection, whether you’re looking to learn more at home or want to make art
more accessible in your classroom. This six-part video series illuminates art history
concepts through fun, unscripted conversations between art historians, curators,
archaeologists, and artists, committed to a fresh take on the history of visual arts.
A conversation with Kelin Michael, Graduate Curatorial Intern, Manuscripts, Getty Museum and Dr. Beth Harris, Executive Director, Smarthistory, in front of Gospel Book, c. 1504-05, Ethiopian. Tempera, 34.5 x 26.5 cm, Ms. 102, 2008.15. Getty Museum, Los Angeles

[@KendraEMoyer]

Thank you for sharing this knowledge.

[@selamforethiopian3116]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful gospel 🙏

[@nealpeterson]

gorgeous - what a sense of abstraction

[@josephmessner5312]

Fascinating Christian text and art !

[@Sasha0927]

Oh my gosh, what it must be like to flip through this book and see it's gorgeous illustrations. 😍 I'm curious what it smells like, lol. I've seen a very few depictions of an African Madonna and this one is lovely. The canon tables pages are stunning. I've been doodling in one of the field notes booklets and feel inspired to do a geometric, abstracted person. It should be fun. 🙃

[@supremereader7614]

So cool to see the Virgin in various forms! Thanks

[@CoderatheGreat]

Very beautiful, the artwork almost looks Celtic!

[@deer563]

True it does

[@lGalaxisl]

Celtic Christianity had a Coptic influence, so the resemblance might not be accidental.

[@MH-ms1dg]

@@lGalaxisl true, but the direct influence might be less important than a roughly common goal for abstract representation

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

@@lGalaxisl In what way, exactly, was Celtic Christianity influenced by the Coptic Church? This I've never heard before; please explain.

[@lGalaxisl]

@@giuseppelogiurato5718 the ancient story goes that seven egyptian monks came to ireland and were burried there before St. Patrick arrived. One noteable similarity between the irish and coptic faith is that irish monasteries were build in remote places, such as the island of Skellig Michael, just like the egyptian monks retreated into the desert away from people.

[@lewhensilvar3521]

Where is textile in that paste down from? Also, since Ethiopia sent diplomatic missions to Europe in the 15th century did they brought back any European art influence? Also, the patterns, colors and shapes in these illustrations are so striking. It looks more as if they came from a 20th century art movement than from a 16th century religious book

[@smarthistory-art-history]

The cloth may be from India if I remember correctly.

[@bromance_y]

Look so similar to the Byzantine style of iconography

[@RosarioCaliColombia]

again thank you , do you have a patreon account, i am eager to support you in your endeavors

[@smarthistory-art-history]

What a lovely note to receive! Here is a secure link to support our work: smarthistory.org/financial-support/ Also, please visit our main site: smarthistory.org to find all of our content (roughly 1,000 videos and 3,500 essays). Many thanks and please stay in touch.

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

Any other Reggae fans thinking, "well, yeah, we already know about King Solomon and Sheba and Menelik and The Ark and all that stuff."? This is the church into which Bob Marley was baptized, (months before his death) after all... It's all very familiar to anyone who's looked into Rastafarianism and Black-African Christian history.

[@wechecha]

Question is how did they acquire these manuscript?????

[@meriarif1833]

They looted while they were on a mission pretending to be a tourist. Simple😊

[@gergelysz2997]

Don't you need gloves to touch these old manuscripts? It's seems wrong touch it with your bare hand.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Great question. It is my understanding, based on conversations with manuscript and rare book curators and other specialists at a number of museums and research libraries, that although cotton gloves were once commonly recommended, the current thinking is that gloves reduce the finger's sensitivity and thus actually increase the potential for damage. Hands must be clean and specialists are very careful as they turn pages.

[@gergelysz2997]

@@smarthistory-art-history Hmm, Interesting. Thanks for answering!