«The Lament of Adam» in the Miniatures and Text of the Manuscripts of James Kokkinobaphos’ Homilies

Abstract

The article examines the specifics of the interaction between text and illustration in the manuscripts of James Kokkinobaphos’ homilies, using «The Lament of Adam» as a case study. It briefly outlines the content and publication history of the second homily and describes the cycle of miniatures depicting the Fall of the Progenitors. The author identifies and explains fundamental differences in the «Expulsion from Paradise» miniature between the Vatican and Paris codices. Particular attention is paid to the placement of miniatures within the text of both manuscripts, which influences their composition. The distinctive nature of these miniatures is attributed to the fact that their iconography relies directly on the text of the homily. The article provides a detailed analysis of the unique iconography of the miniature illustrating the life of Adam and Eve after the Expulsion. The interaction between adjacent miniatures is demonstrated, suggesting a unified compositional structure. The author concludes that the continuity between the text and the illustrative cycle of James’ homilies is essential for a complete perception of the work’s theological message.