International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Guentcho Banev
University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 
[e-mail]
On the Miniatures of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard 
in the Byzantine Manuscript Paris. Gr. 74 and Its Slavonic Replicas and Parallels
The scene of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20: 1-16) in the Byzantine 
manuscript Paris. gr. 74 is probably the most known picture depicting agriculture life scenes in 
Byzantine art. It also appears in the Slavonic replicas and parallels (Gospels of Tsar Ivan Alexander, 
Elisavetgrad etc.) in variations, with few, still significant, differences in details, which sometimes 
repeat the Byzantine prototype and other times introduce new elements. 

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This paper examines the tradition of the scene, on the base of the archaeological evidence and 
the typology of viticulture tools, as well as the picture’s text context in the manuscripts. Furthermore, 
suggestions are made, in attempt to contribute to the research of the viticulture and rural implements 
in Byzantium and the Balkans, but also to restore the stemma of the manuscripts mentioned above.
Nino Kavtaria
Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts, Tbilisi, Georgia; 
[e-mail]
Byzantine and Georgian Cultural Relation of the 12
th
Century: 
Gelati Gospel (Q-908) from the National Centre of Manuscripts 
and Cod. 93 from Athens National Library
The paper is focused on the study of main artistic aspects of two important manuscripts of 
the 12
th
century, Georgian Gospel book from Gelati (Q-908) and Greek manuscript (Cod.93) from 
Athens National library, on their attraction towards each other, their meeting points and the cultural 
and artistic influences from Georgian and Byzantine points of view.
The so-called Gelati Gospel (Cod.Q-908 with 254 miniatures, kept at the National Centre of 
Manuscripts, Georgia) is one of the distinguished among the 11
th
-12
th
century manuscripts, marking 
the most significant stage in the history of book illumination. System of decoration and illustration 
is akin to that of Byzantine and Georgian manuscripts dated to the ca. 12
th
century.
The text of codex 93 is adorned with 20 miniatures. The manuscript lacks colophons and its 
date, the 12
th
century, is identified based on the comparative of data provided by its text, calligraphy 
and miniatures; neither ascertained is the place of its creation (supposedly, Mount Athos or 
Constantinople). It is true that miniature selection principle is quite different from narrative cycle 
of Gelati gospel and follows the liturgical sequence.
I attempt to explore main tendencies in miniature painting of the 12
th
century, identify main 
characteristics and draw parallel between the local artistic traditions and of milieu.
Our research is directed towards the investigation of parallels in Byzantine, Georgian and East 
Christian art. This investigation leads to specific conclusions on the iconography of the different 
Christological cycles (His Infancy, Healings and Miracles, Passion cycle, Major Feasts, events after 
Resurrection, as well as cycle of St. John the Baptists).
The aim of the paper is to survey the principles of the illustrations in the framework of one 
artistic circle (or even school); establishing the typical artistic features and iconographic program 
deriving from the miniaturists, help us to reconstruct the process of evolution of Georgian book 
illumination in the context of 12
th
century Byzantine Book Art.

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