description Chludov Psalter Overview
The Chludov Psalter is a ninth-century Byzantine illuminated manuscript containing the Greek text of the Psalms accompanied by extensive marginal illustrations. Produced during or shortly after the end of Byzantine Iconoclasm, many of its images defend the veneration of icons and compare iconoclasts with figures who tormented Christ. Its unusually direct and polemical relationship between text and image makes it an important source for scholars of Byzantine art, theology, manuscript culture, and the iconoclastic controversy.
insights Ranking position
Chludov Psalter ranks #90 of 243 in the Manuscript ranking, behind Liber Scivias (Hildegard of Bingen), ahead of Khludov Psalter.
help Chludov Psalter FAQ
Are the Chludov Psalter and Khludov Psalter different manuscripts?
No, Chludov and Khludov are alternative English transliterations of the Russian collector Aleksey Khludov's surname. Both names refer to the ninth-century Greek psalter now cataloged as MS D.129 in Moscow.
What is the most famous image in the Chludov Psalter?
A frequently reproduced miniature compares an iconoclast whitewashing Christ's image with the Crucifixion scene in which Christ is offered vinegar. The pairing turns a psalm illustration into a forceful defense of sacred images.
How many illustrations does the Chludov Psalter contain?
The manuscript has 208 marginal miniatures plus a frontispiece. These images include Old Testament subjects, New Testament interpretations, and figures connected with ninth-century Byzantine religious disputes.
Can visitors see the Chludov Psalter in Moscow?
The manuscript belongs to the State Historical Museum, but rare codices are not necessarily kept on permanent public display. Exhibition status should be checked directly with the museum before planning a visit.
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