Gospels cover
Unknown Artist
19th century, after 18th century original
Medium
Silver on base metal
Dimensions
Overall: 19 1/2 × 11 3/4 in. (49.5 × 29.8 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Electrotype
Culture
British, after Russian original
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1883
Accession Number
83.18.77
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Gospels cover*, a 19th-century British electrotype reproduction of an 18th-century Russian original, served as a protective and decorative cover for a Gospel book in Orthodox Christian liturgy. Crafted in silver over base metal, it measures an impressive 19½ × 11¾ inches, showcasing intricate scenes of men and women engaged in reading—likely evoking the evangelists or pious figures immersed in sacred texts. Such covers were prized treasures in Russian ecclesiastical art, blending religious devotion with masterful metalworking traditions. The electrotype technique, pioneered in...