Egmond Gospels (The Hague KB, 76 F 1)

Dirk II and Hildegard present the codex to Egmond Abbey, f. 214v.

Colloquial name(s): Egmond Gospels

Official name(s): The Hague, Koninlijke Bibliotheek, 76 F 1

Date: text, c. 850-875; illumination, c. 900; dedication miniatures, c. 975 (source)

Origin: text, Rheims; illumination, Northern France; dedication miniatures, Ghent (source)

Online facsimile available via: Koninlijke Bibliotheek Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

This copy of the gospels was probably copied c. 850-875 in Rheims with illuminations following the Franco-Saxon school being added in Northern France c. 900 (source). c. 975 dedication miniatures were added in Ghent and the gospels were presented by Dirk II, Count of Holland, and his wife Hildegard to Egmond Abbey (source). The manuscript remained with the abbey until at least 1571 (source). Dirk II also had a binding of oak boards made, covered with gold and precious stones - this was lost between 1571 and 1574 and replaced with a plain binding made from wooden boards covered in brown leather and dated 1574 (source and source).

The Egmond Gospels is the earliest surviving manuscript that shows scenes with Dutch people and buildings (source).

Basic descriptions of the illustrations are provided by Koninlijke Bibliotheek along with the facsimile - just click on the 'images and description' tab at the bottom.