AUTHOR: T'OROS ROSLIN

LANGUAGE: CLASSICAL ARMENIAN

DATE: 1262

PAGE #: 833

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 8.75 IN

Digital Version

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS ARMENIAN MANUSCRIPT WAS MADE IN 1262 BY T’OROS ROSLIN, THE CELEBRATED ILLUMINATOR, WHO EXTENDED THE ICONOGRAPHIC REPERTOIRE BY DEFINING A NARRATIVE GOSPEL CYCLE BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL PORTRAITS OF THE EVANGELISTS. THIS SIGNED MANUSCRIPT WAS CREATED AT THE SCRIPTORIUM OF HROMKLA (PRESENT-DAY RUM KALESI, TURKEY), WHICH BECAME THE LEADING ARTISTIC CENTER OF ARMENIAN CILICIA, UNDER THE RULE OF CATHOLICOS CONSTANTINE I (1221-67). AS AN EXTENSIVE COLOPHON STARTING ON FOLIO 406 VERSO EXPLAINS--- T’OROS CREATED THIS MANUSCRIPT UNDER COMMISSION FROM THE NEPHEW OF CONSTANTINE, A PRIEST ALSO NAMED T’OROS. IT IS ONE OF SEVEN KNOWN MANUSCRIPTS BEARING T’OROS ROSLIN’S SIGNATURE. IT IS ALSO THE MOST SUMPTUOUS OF THEM ALL, WITH 15 MINIATURES AND 67 SMALLER ILLUSTRATIONS. THE STYLE OF THE IMAGES SUGGESTS THAT T’OROS HAD SEVERAL ASSISTANTS HELPING WITH THE ILLUSTRATIONS, ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL QUALITY REMAINS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE MANUSCRIPT WAS LONG CHERISHED WITHIN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH. EVEN IN THE 17TH CENTURY, ITS ILLUMINATION SERVED AS A MODEL FOR ARMENIAN SCRIBES, PARTICULARLY BARGHAM AND HIS SON MIK’AYEL. THE INFLUENCE OF T’OROS IS SEEN IN JERUSALEM, ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE, NO. 3438, AND WASHINGTON DC, FREER GALLERY, MS. 36.15; IN THE LATTER MANUSCRIPT, MIK’AYEL EXPLICITLY REFERS TO “THE EXCELLENT SCRIBE T’OROS, SURNAMED ROSLIN.”

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.