File:The raising of Lazarus, Armenia, late 16th century.jpg

ARMENIA, LATE 16TH CENTURY

From a manuscript of the Four Gospels, opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, Lazarus wrapped in a white shroud emerges from his tomb, Christ and a group of disciples approach him as Martha and Mary kneel at his feet, on a gold background with stylised mountains and trees on the horizon, the painting within a border of cusped palmettes, identification inscription in Armenian above, on wide margins, mounted framed and glazed Painting 5 x 3½in. (12.8 x 9cm.); folio 7¾ x 5 5/8in. (19.6 x 14.2cm.)

This miniature comes from a manuscript of the Four Gospels produced by the scribe and artist Martiros of Khizan (ca.1546-1607) and his son Grigoris. Khizan, present day Hizan, is a city situated south of Lake Van and South East of Bitlis. Another manuscript of the Four Gospels by the same artist is in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (MS.573; Sirarpie Der Nersessian, The Chester Beatty Library. A Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts, Dublin, 1958, vol.I, pp.76-81, vol. II, pl.46-47, see pl.47a for an illustration of the same scene). The Chester Beatty manuscript is dated 1596. The depiction of ‘The Raising of Lazarus’ in that manuscript is near identical to ours both in composition and in terms of the thick heavy lines used. For more information please see Vrej Nersessian, A catalogue of the Armenian manuscripts in the British Library acquired since the year 1913 and of collections in other libraries in the United Kingdom, The British Library, 2012. Other paintings from this manuscript were in the collection of Liuba and Ernesto Wolf, sold Artcurial Paris, 1 December 2014, lots 46-48.