Art News

"In the Beginning Was the Word": Medieval gospel illumination exhibition at the Getty Museum

LOS ANGELES, CA.- The four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, among the most well-known texts in the Bible, offer powerful accounts of the life of Christ and form the basis of the religion that his disciples founded. Drawing primarily from the Getty Museum’s permanent collection, “In the Beginning Was the Word”: Medieval Gospel Illumination, on display August 30–November 27, 2011, at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Center, examines the decoration associated with the Gospels, including portraits of the four Evangelists, and explores the varied approaches to illustrating the life of Christ. “The Gospels were considered of paramount importance and were richly decorated throughout the Middle Ages,” says Kristen Collins, associate curator of manuscripts. “With examples ranging from England to Ethiopia, Byzantium, and Armenia, this exhibition traces the tradition of