UNKNOWN MASTER, German
(active 10th century)

Book cover

850-1000
Ivory
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

This ivory panel was made for a liturgical book such as a Sacramentary. It depicts St Gregory at his writing desk. Inspired by the Holy Spirit (symbolised by the dove on his shoulder) he is writing the Canon of the Mass. Three scribes below carry on the copying the liturgical text. This cover is one of a group of three produced by the same artist.