The Lindisfarne Gospels
The Lindisfarne Gospels, a magnificent book created by the community of St Cuthbert on Lindisfarne in the 8th century, is now on display at Durham University.
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The Lindisfarne Gospels, created by the community of St Cuthbert on Lindisfarne in the 8th century and regarded as one of the finest examples of medieval creativity and craftsmanship, is now on display at Durham University, giving visitors the chance to see examples of the magnificent figural painting and the intricate insular ornament for which the book is so renowned.
To safeguard the book, each of its pages can be opened for no longer than three months, once every five years: the first opening will be two pages of beautiful and intricately designed canon tables; the second will feature the detailed decorated word panel at the beginning of one of the prefaces to the text and a page featuring one of the famous Evangelist portraits.
The St Cuthbert Gospel, Europe’s oldest surviving bound book, and some of Britain’s most significant and precious Anglo-Saxons artefacts and medieval manuscripts, will on display alongside the Lindisfarne Gospels.
Lindisfarne Gospels Durham is on show at Durham University's Palace Green Library until 30 September 2013. For more information, visit www.lindisfarnegospels.com
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