Evangeliarum from Saint-Amand Abbey, 1180-1200, Illumination on parchment, 251 x 186 mm, Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp.

Anonymous Byzantine, Ascension of Christ, from Rabbula Gospels 586 A.D. Approx. 1' 1" X 10 1/2" Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence From folio 13 verso. Originally from Zagba, Syria.

Chi-rho-iota page, folio 34 recto of the Book of Kells, probably from Iona, Scotland, late 8th or early 9th. Tempera on vellum, 33 x 24 cm. Trinity College Library, Dublin.

Book of Kells

There are 259 pages in the Lindisfarne Gospels, each one made of vellum. Most of the pages are devoted to the text of the Gospels, with sparse patches of ornamentation.

Saint Matthew, folio 25 verso of the lindisfarne Gospels, tempera on vellum, 34 x 23.5 cm. England. The scribe Ezra, Rewriting the Sacred Records, from folio 5 recto of the Codex Amiatinus, from Jarrow, England, ca. 689-716. Tempera on Vellum, 51x34 cm. Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence. Originally from Jarrow, England

Saint Matthew, folio 15 recto of the Coronation Gospels (Gospel Book of Charlemagne), from Aachen, Germany, ca. 800 810. Ink and tempera on vellum, 32.5 x 26 cm. Schatzkammer, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

Carolingian Manuscript Illumination During the early Middle Ages, most paintings were found in the form of illustrated manuscripts. This remained the chief form of painting for years. Most were produced in monasteries, which at the time were the centers of learning and art. It was the wealth of the church which allowed monks to copy books and manuscripts before the invention of the printing press in the late 1400's. St. Matthew, folio 18 verso of the Ebbo Gospel (Gospel Book of Archbishop Ebbo of Reims. 26 x 22 cm.

David composing the Psalms, folio I verso of the Paris Psalter, ca. 950-970. Tempera on vellum, 36 x 26 cm. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.

The Utrecht Psalter was written in Reims c.820. It is remarkable for the lively colour drawings which illustrate the themes of each psalm. It is was at Canterbury some time in the early 11th century, when it was copied by the monks of Christ Church, who updated the script to the fashionable Carolingian Minuscule, and coloured their drawings raher than leaving them monochrome, as here. The Utrecht Psalter is a high status liturgical book written in Roman Rustic. 33 x 25 cm.

University Library, Utrecht.

Psalm 150, from Utrecht Psalter. c. 830, Vellum, 12 x 24 cm. University Library, Utrecht, Netherlands, Originally Utrecht Psalter was from Hautvilliers, France.

Golden Bull c. 1390 Illumination on parchment, 42,0 x 30,0 cm Ö sterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna

Angel plaque made into book cover, San Marco, Venice, Early 11th century

Book cover, San Marco Treasury, front, Early 11th century

Christ in Majesty, Four Evangelists, and Scenes from the Life of Christ. c. 870, Gold set with pearls and precious stones, 43 x 33 cm, Carolingian Art Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. Cover from Codex Aureus of St Emmeram

Cover of Psalter of Charles the Bald. c. 865 Originally from Saint-Denis, France. Ivory panel with scenes from Psalms 51 and 57 set in silver-gilt frame with filigree work and precious stones; panel 14 x 13.3 cm, entire cover 24 x 19.5 cm.

Crucifixion with Angels and Mourning Figures, outer cover, Lindau Gospels. c. 870-80. Gold, pearls, and gems, 36.9 x 26.7 cm. The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York. The magnificent illustrated manuscripts represented an enormous investment in time, talent, and materials, so it is not surprising that they were often protected with equally magnificent covers, which were frequently reused or broken up. It is not known what book this one was made for. It became the cover of the Lindau Gospels prepared at the Monastery of Saint Gall in the late 9th.

15th-century bookcover with 10th-century plaque at center (Arnhem)

Pectoral with scenes of Scythian life. c. 4th century BC. Gold, dia. 30.5 cm, weight 2 1/2 lbs. Historical Museum, Kiev. Greek craft done for the Scythians.

Jewelled votive crown of King Recceswinth. c. 653 672

Reconstruction of tomb of the "chief" of Morken, Germany. c. 600

Frankish looped fibula. 6-7th century Silver gilt worked in filigree, with inlays of garnets and other stones, 10 cm long. Musee des Antiquities Nationales, Saint-Germain-en Laye.

Frankish round fibula. 6th & 7th centuries, Gold, cloisonne technique, inlay of garnets and bluestones, 9 cm diameter, City of Liverpool Museums

Purse cover from Sutton Hoo ship burial. c. 633, Gold & enamel, 19 cm long, British Museum, London

Purse Lid, Sutton Hoo, East Anglia, England, 630. Gold with garnets and cloisonné enamel, 20.5 cm L. British Museum.

The Franks Casket. c. 700, Whalebone, British Museum, London

Carved tombstone or panel from a choir-screen. 7th century, stone, Gondorf, Germany On the image there is a man dressed as a priest. In the corners there are Germanic looking griffins. Two doves with flanking heads have been taken to suggest that it is Christ who is represented. He is surrounded by creatures of Paradise as in the eastern Mediterranean ivories. The beaded border derives from late antique art.

Central part of a closure slab (Christ beneath an arch). c. 613-620 Adoration of the Magi. c. 745. Museo Cristiano, Friuli

Tara Brooch (front), from Ireland. c. 700. Bronze with overlay of gold filigree, glass and amber settings, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.

Tara Brooch (back), from Ireland. c. 700

Equestrian Portrait of Charlemagne (?). early 9th century, Bronze, orginally gilt, 24 cm high. Louvre, Paris

High Cross of Muiredach, Ireland. 923, Stone, c. 16' high Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland South Cross, County Tipperary, Ireland. 8th century, stone, Ahenny, County Tipperary, Ireland

Map of the VIking expansion

Remains of large rowing ship found at Sutton Hoo. c. 650-660, 26 meters long Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.

Oseberg ship of Oseberg ship burial. 1st half 9th century, Length: 65 feet, Viking Ship Museum, Oslo.

Animal-head post from Oseberg ship burial. c. 825. Wood, approx 5" high, Vikingskipshuset Museum, Oslo, Norway

Oseberg carriage from Oseberg ship burial. 9th century. Wood, Vikingskipshuset Museum, Oslo, Norway

Wood-carved ornament (porch of stave church), Norway. 11th century. Wood, Urnes, Norway

Sword hilt encrusted with silver from Hedeby boat burial, 9th century, metal, silver.

Two silver cups. 10th century

Scene of Crucifixion from the "Jelling Stone". 10th century, Stone, height is over 5 ‘ , Jelling, East Jutland, Denmark

Belt Buckle, from Sutton Hoo, first half of seventh century. Gold and niello, 13.5 cm L. weight 5 lb. British Museum.

Book of Lindisfarne, ornamental page, from England. late 7th century. Illumination, c .13 x 10" From monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, made c. 698-721. (Originally from Northumberland, England). A colophon states that the manuscript was made by Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne for God and for Saint Cuthbert. British Museum, London

Man (symbol of St Matthew), from Book of Durrow. c. 660 680, Ink and tempera on parchment, 9 5/8 x 6 1/8 “ . Trinity College Library, Dublin. Folio 21 verso of the Book of Durrow, probably from Iona, Scotland