The Book of the Four Gospels of Humor

June 17 1473 - the manuscript and the miniatures; November 20 1487 - the binding

A masterpiece of its kind, this book of the four gospels of 1473 was made by the monarch Nicodim of Putna Monastery and it contains 278 parchment sheets, in folio, written in Slavonic, except the first and last sheets, which are completely blank. Above each column, from right to left, from sheets number 2, 78, 126 and 295 there are small flowery title pages, coloured in red, blue and gold. The title pages of the Gospels themselves are adorned with sumptuous decorations which combine, in an ingenious manner, intertwined circles, beadings and vegetal stylisations made in gold and blue, red, green and brown inks.

The titles themselves are written in gold capital letters, and the initials of the chapters are richly decorated with intertwined stems and delicate ornaments, also drawn in gold and multicoloured inks.

Ordered in the correct succession existent in the New Testament, that is, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, each Gospel is preceded by a full-page drawing of its author, either sitting and writing or listening to the secret voice of the Holy Spirit, in an ample, or scantily suggested architectural setting. Their features are expressive and very individualized, concentrated or inspired, in full accord with the scene they are participating in.

Crowning the extraordinary achievement in miniature-making started by Gavril Ulric from the Monastery of Neamtu, during the time of Alexander the Great, the Book of the Four Gospels from 1437, written by monk Nicodim owe its glory not only to its widely recognized artistic value, but also to the fact that it contains - on page 266 on the back, the famous portrait of Stephen the Great, considered to be the most true to life image of the famous voivode. Represented as a founder, kneeling at the feet of the Virgin, who sits, next to her son, on a sculpted high stool, the voivode offers, with both hands the Book of the Four Gospels, which he has commissioned, to Jesus.

On the second cover, the Assumption of the Holy Virgin is portrayed. Around the iconostasis on which the Virgin lies, are the twelve Apostles, and in the upper central register, is Jesus holding his mother’s soul, transfigured as a baby.


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