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The
Arts In Berwick -- Religion
The Lindisfarne Gospels
Even in life St.Cuthbert was being thought of as a saint. Dug up ten years
after his death his body was found to be uncorrupted, a sure sign of sanctity.
To attract pilgrims Cuthbert was reburied in richer vestments and a smart
new shrine, a book of his miracles was compiled to put the word about,
and, crucially, a vastly expensive and lavish gospel book was commissioned
to lay at the shrine to impress visitors.
Thus the Lindisfarne Gospels were written and illuminated on the island;
and for the same reason that many today would like to see them back there
-- to drum up tourism.
Other fine gospel books were also illuminated at the same time as the
Lindisfarne Gospels and lent to other monasteries, spreading Lindisfarne's
new lettering and illumination style far and wide.
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