Master of the Vienna Gregory Tablet: Saint Gregory and scribes (9th century)

(Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria)

An Ivory relief made by an unknown Carolingian artist. This piece originally was the cover of a book. Depicted in the center is pope saint Gregory I 'the great' (A.D. 540 – 604). The pope is shown writing the liturgical texts spoken by the priest during Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. According to a legend, a scribe (three of them are depicted at the bottom) saw the dove of the Holy Spirit whispering the prayers in Gregory’s ear before the saint dictated them to him in a loud voice. the dove of the Holy Spirit is sitting on the right shoulder of the saint. The building itself is the Lateran Palace in Rome. Relief from the 9th century.