Washington Manuscript III - The Four Gospels (Codex Washingtonensis)

Object Details

• Description

  The Four Gospels, in one volume, bound in painted board covers (F1906.297-298). Small, sloping uncial writing in dark brown ink; one column; 30 lines to the page; 372 written pages on 187 leaves.

  For a full description, see: Sanders, Henry A. "Washington Manuscript of the Gospels" University of Michigan Humanistic Series, Vol. IX, Part l.

• Label

  Variously known as Codex Washingtonensis or the Freer Gospels, this codex originally contained the complete text of the four canonical gospels in the Western order (Matthew, John, Luke, Mark). Its careful layout suggests it was for public, liturgical reading. But it was apparently compiled from a number of different and probably fragmentary sources, perhaps caused by the Great Persecution when Diocletian ordered the destruction of Christian books. At the end of Mark (after 16:14) is a statement attributed to Jesus that occurs in no other manuscript. Called the Freer logion, it reads, in part:

  And Christ replied to them, "The term of years for Satan's power has been fulfilled, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who have sinned I was delivered over to death so that they may return to the truth and no longer sin, so that they may inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness that is in heaven."

• Provenance

  Possibly once in the possession of the Monastery of the Vinedresser, near Giza, Egypt [1]

  To 1906

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1906 [2]

  From 1906 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi in Giza, Egypt, on December 19, 1906 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Curatorial Remark 7, citation of Fr. Theodore Peterson, St. Paul's College, Catholic University, 1957, in the object record. See also, Curatorial Remark 6, undated folder sheet note, in the object record.

  [2] See Original Miscellaneous List, Biblical Mss. Section, S.I. 1467, L. 3, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Peacock Room Comes to America [2011-2016] (April 9, 2011 to January 4, 2016)

  In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000 (October 21, 2006 to January 7, 2007)

  Christian Art (April 10, 1978 to October 12, 1978)

  Christian Art (December 1, 1971 to April 7, 1978)

  Christian Art (January 1, 1963 to May 15, 1968)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian and Byzantine Art (July 28, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 6 Alcove (February 25, 1956 to July 22, 1958)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, East Corridor (October 26 to November 10, 1955)

  Special Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts and East Christian Art (February 15, 1955 to April 13, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, 1947 (June 18, 1947 to October 26, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts, Gallery 6, 1947 (April 23 to October 3, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts (December 20, 1944 to October 6, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ali Arabi (ca. 1840-1932) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  300s, 400s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Biblical Manuscripts, Charles Lang Freer collection, Bible, Bible, N.T.

• Culture

  Christians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts