Evangelist Saint Mark writing the Gospel with his symbol, the Lion, holding a scroll

Unknown

11th century · Ivory · Medieval Art

This ivory likely decorated the cover of a Gospel book. The abbreviated Latin inscription refers to the opening lines of Mark’s Gospel: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” The miniature church resembles surviving monuments in Cologne, one of the most important Ottonian artistic centers. A former owner’s stamp is to the right of the desk at which Mark sits.

Artist

Unknown

Date

11th century

Medium

Ivory

Culture

German

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917