The Miniatures of the Florence Diatessaron (Laurentian ms Or. 81): Their Place in Late Medieval Art and Supposed Connection with Early Christian and Insular Art
Meyer Schapiro
In an article on the Persian manuscript of Tatian's Diatessaron in Florence (The Art Bulletin, l, 1968, 119–140), Carl Nordenfalk draws two conclusions which, if true, would radically affect certain our ideas about beginnings both Early Christian and medieval art. He believes that four decorated pages at end this codex, made for Armenian bishop 1547, preserve types even detailed forms ornament pictures a Greek produced Rome a.d. 170 under eyes (Figs. 1–4). They are then evidence character art fifty years before oldest surviving examples painting sculpture. second place, decoration images Tatian appear to so similar figures earliest Hiberno-Saxon manuscripts – Books Durrow, Echternach, Kells others genesis peculiarities insular isolated among works their time can be explained by copying like archetype codex. “Insular illumination,” he writes, “rested mainly one pillar: copy illustrated edition Diatessaron” (page 140).
Art Bulletin