Question

NCIET PAGE WITH ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST, EBBO GOSPELS Gospel of Matthew. Second quarter of 9th century. Ink, gold, and colors on vellum, each page 10 1/4 x 8 3/4" (26 x 22.2 cm). Mediathèque d'Epernay, France. MS. 1, fol. 18v. The Closer Look discussing two author portraits of the evangelist Matthew provides an extensive stylistic comparison of the same character in two Carolingian manuscripts. Now compare the figure of Matthew from the Ebbo Gospels to the Matthew in the Gospel Book of Durrow. Select one point of comparison from the Closer Look-drapery, background, expression, treatment of the figure, space, etc.-and compare the Ebbo and Durrow Matthews. Refer to specific parts of both images to support your comparison.

Answer 1

Matthew the Evangelist, Ebbo Gospels was regarded as the energetic portrayal of a painting where things were portrayed in such a minute way which gives vividness in the painting while the Gospel Book of Durrow was of the ancient source of painting.

Expression: Ebbo in its painting had given a very expressive expression to the painting which seems very much energetic where he minutely worked on the facial expression as well as the style of painting which was quite unique to the age

while

The expression of the Durrow Matthews painting was not such expressive but in this, he wants to give the human attribution to some animals of the Carpet which was not very much expressive as compare to the Ebbo.