# The Golden Gospels of Henry III [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MINIATURIST, German]() - Date: 1001-1050 - Technique: Manuscript \(Cod. Vitr. 17\), 500 x 335 mm ## Commentary The Golden Gospels of Henry III 1043-46 Manuscript \(Cod. Vitr. 17\), 500 x 335 mm Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo, El Escorial This evangeliary containing the four Gospels was commissioned by Henry III for Speyer Cathedral, built by the Salian dynasty and housing the tombs of its emperors. It was probably intended for liturgical use at the high altar of this huge church. This exalted function finds confirmation in its enormous size, its ultra-sumptuous presentation and the excellence of its artistic achievement - qualities that make this evangeliary one of the most important illuminated manuscripts of the early medieval period. The Golden Gospels of Henry III combine all the traditions of the Echternach school. Many elements of the cycle of New Testament scenes appear to be derived from the creative sphere of the Master of the Registrum Gregorii, an outstanding figure of the Middle Ages. He was active in the Trier area in the late 10th and early 11th centuries and his innovations provided a link between the book painting of Reichenau and that of the Benedictine Abbey at Echternach. On folio 46r the main stages in the story of Lazarus are depicted in the typical narrative style of the Echternach book painting. ## Related artworks - [Aachen Gospels]() - [Aachen Gospels]() - [Ada Gospels]() - [Allegory of the Sacraments]() - [Antoninus Florentinus: Chronicon]() - [Aratea]() - [Astronomical-computist collection]() - [Astronomicum caesareum]() - [Astronomicum caesareum]() - [Bamberg Apocalypse]() - [Bamberg Apocalypse]() - [Bamberg Apocalypse]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()