Paolo Penko creates the new “Florentine Evangelary” for Pope Francis

Archbishop of Florence Giuseppe Betori hands over a special Evangeliary to Pope Francis

On 24 September 2014, at the end of the general audience in St Peter’s Square, the Archbishop of Florence Cardinal Giuseppe Betori presented Pope Francis with a special and precious edition of the Florentine Gospel Book made by the Florentine Master Goldsmith Paolo Penko.

The Evangeliary, which contains the text of the Gospels proclaimed on Sundays and on the solemnities of the liturgical year, is enriched by many images of works taken from the great art history of Florence and its territory.

The work, inspired by one of Beato Angelico’s frescoes decorating the Convent of San Marco in Florence, is made of wood and silver.

Sul fronte vi è l’immagine della ” Trasfigurazione di Gesù Cristo ” realizzata in argento con l’antica tecnica della fusione a cera persa, cesellata e incisa a bulino, che poggia su una formella decorata con una lavorazione a raggiera realizzata con la tecnica del penkato.

The bas-relief is framed by four silver pyramids (also worked with the penkato technique) resting on cypress wood with pure gold highlights.

On the back are the four evangelists inspired by those depicted by Donatello with a silver cross in the centre.