Ebbo Gospels

Ebbo Gospels, around 816 to 835, Municipal Library, Épernay. Made for Ebbo, Archbishop of Reims, at the abbey of Hautvillers, it is famous for portraits painted with frenzied, almost expressionist energy. Saint Matthew hunches over his still blank book as if he cannot write fast enough, his robe and hair drawn in quick, flickering strokes, while his winged man calls down to him from the top right corner. Even the hillside behind him seems to tremble. Few early medieval pages feel this restless, and up close it looks startlingly modern.