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Illustrious Illuminations II:
Armenian and Georgian Christian Manuscripts from the Eleventh to the Eighteenth Century
--- Exquisite manuscripts from the Caucasus

30 Mar 2017

(From left) Ribbon-cutting ceremony by the former President of the Armenian Community of China Mr Henri Arslanian, Collector of the McCarthy Collection Mr Robert McCarthy, UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe, Head of Preservation and Conservation for HKUL Ms Jody Beenk and UMAG Associate Curator and Publisher Mr Christopher Mattison.

After the first display of Western manuscripts from the McCarthy Collection at The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 2015, a second exhibition “Illustrious Illuminations II: Armenian and Georgian Manuscripts from the Eleventh to the Eighteenth Century” will be presented from March 31 to June 11, 2017. For the first time in Hong Kong, this exhibition will display an exquisite selection of bound volumes, prayer scrolls and illuminated leaves illustrating the Christian Gospel from the Eastern Mediterranean.

An opening ceremony of the exhibition was held at UMAG today (March 30, 2017). Officiating guests included Collector of the McCarthy Collection Mr Robert McCarthy and Director of UMAG Dr Florian Knothe.

Armenian illustrated manuscripts are some of the most lavishly decorated codices of the Christian churches from the Middle East. The Gospels are paramount among these, primarily because of the Armenian community’s respect for the sacred texts, revering them in the same way that Greek and Russian Christians regard holy icons. Such texts were carried into war by Armenian rulers and individual copies of the Gospels were often given sacred names and believed to hold miraculous powers.

Few Armenian manuscripts predate the Middle Ages. Individual examples of manuscripts from the seventh century are among the earliest known. Since the eighth century, Arab domination within Armenia largely suppressed Christian artistic expression, and no work is known prior to the end of the Caliphate in the mid-ninth century. Although a few manuscripts survive from the later ninth and tenth centuries, extant Armenian illustrated manuscripts are not common until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Examples from these early periods begin the exhibition’s chronological display, introducing the tradition of teaching the Gospel through both word and image. The show is then complemented by a set of Georgian Gospel leaves illustrating the Evangelists.

The UMAG is grateful to Robert McCarthy for his generosity in sharing these many fine works with the general public.

Details of the Exhibition

Period: March 31, 2017 (Friday) to June 11 2017 (Sunday)

Opening Hours:

09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)

13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)

Closed on University and Public Holidays

Venue: 1/F, Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk

Admission: Free

Website: http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU

Instagram: #Armenian, #Georgian, #Manuscripts

Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG

About University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)

UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

Media enquiries

UMAG Programme Assistant Miss Chelsea Choi, Tel: (852) 2241 5509, Email: cchelsea@hku.hk.