Book of Deer
[Scotland? 850-1000]

The Book of Deer is widely regarded as the earliest manuscript produced in Scotland. It is described as a pocket Gospel Book, with only the Gospel of John complete. Each gospel is preceded by a full page miniature in a very distinctive style. Debate continues amongst academics of the exact interpretation of these. In the page shown here, Jesus identifies himself as the Bread of Life, in chapter six of John’s gospel. The marginal illustrations do not seem to be directly related to the text. A community project based in Aberdeenshire is studying the cultural context of the Book, looking into what it can tell the community from which it is believed to come about its past and present.

The Book of Deer project website

This volume has been digitised in full: to view online, click “Open Digital Library”. It is not in the physical exhibition.