The actual writing of the book of kells is in itself the embodiment the handwriting in the ms. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. A page from an early gospel book shows a tiny central cross surrounded and. Dear readers, i am forwarding a little more information on the book of kells. Chi and rho written x p in greek are the the first two letters of the word christ in greek xpi. The motif is already fully developed in the book of durrow, which dates to the. X marks the spot the monogram of christ june 15, 2016 the library of trinity college dublin one of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the majority of the page. Early christian manuscript art lindisfarne gospels carpetpage with cross 680 ce. Jun 02, 2017 student exhibition, ma in medieval history. The book of kells a masterpiece of irish art youtube. Werner, the crosscarpet page in the book of durrow. Comments on the vellum, the makeup and other aspects, scriptorium 10 1956, 3 21, esp. The book of durrow has always been fascinating to me, probably because it was the first medieval manuscript i studied in college.
The year was ad 410, and the roman lighthouses, or pharos, along britains channel coast went dark. Chi and rho are the first two letters of the word christ in greek trinity college library, dublin. Book of durrow project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy. Chirhoiota page, folio 34 recto of the book of kells, probably from iona, scotland, late eighth or early ninth century. The letter rho is snuggled underneath the arms of the chi. The necessary layout with compasses for the lower right circle of the page of the eight circled cross of the book of kells. Its a copy of the four gospels in latin with beautiful, intricate illuminations. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. Both letters are divided into compartment which are lavishly decorated with knot work and other patterns.
The book of kells also known as the book of columba is one of the great masterpieces of irish christian culture. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. Ancient sources draw an unambiguous distinction between the two terms labarum and chi rho, even though later usage sometimes regards the two as synonyms. Chi and rho written x p in greek are the the first two letters of. But since this singular treatment of the chi rho incipit appears so consistently in irish gospel books from the book of durrow on, it may be surmised that in the irish communities where these codices were used matt. The place of creation may perhaps have been durrow abbey in ireland or a monastery in northumbria in northeastern england where the monastery at lindisfarne would be the likely candidate or perhaps iona abbey in western scotlandthe place of origin has. Man symbol of saint matthew, folio 21 verso of the book of durrow, possibly from iona, scotland, ca. In a recent study of the iconographic character of the crosscarpet page lv opening the book of durrow dublin, trinity college a.
George bains drawings from the book of kells, eight. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of christ. Its intricate decoration serves to literally make gods words beautiful. Predated only by the cathach of st columba, the book of durrow is a gospel manuscript named after the monastery of durrow, a foundation of saint columba near tullamore in central ireland. Aug 30, 20 this feature is not available right now. Dec 16, 2014 the book of kells, chirho or incarnation page. With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone. One of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig.
These motifs appear in other insular manuscripts such as lindisfairne gospels and the book of durrow, but not even close to the extent of the book of kells. Apr 26, 2016 strictly speaking, rather than the book of kells, named after a town in county meath, it should be called the book of iona, as its thought that it was monks on that remote scottish island who. In spring 2004 the government bought durrow abbey and high cross. The chi rho page is considered the most famous page in medieval art and introduces matthews. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image as part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. The book of kells contains two other fullpage miniatures, which illustrate episodes from the passion. A page from an early gospel book shows a tiny central cross surrounded and threatened by an immense black area filled with interlaced beasts. A great place to start is the oxford history of art series books. Codex a book composed of folded sheets sewn along one edge. Codicology the study of the physical structure of a book. Dec 16, 2014 the cross page from the book of kells shows many of the same fantastic beasts as the earlier cross, but now it has broken out of its little circle and looms large and conquering over the beasts. It was vital that the high cross was protected from any further deterioration.
Here it was kept from the eleventh century if not before until the seventeenth century, when, after the dissolution of the monastery as we know from an entry in the martyrology of donegal and from. George bain drawing spiral group from the eight circled cross. The letters are boldly outlined, and the page is decorated with interlaced design in jewel tones. The book of durrow is stylistically related to the book of kells an the book of durrow dublin, trinity college library, ms a. The book of durrow dublin, trinity college library, ms a. In the middle of the 6th century a monastery was founded here by st colomba, the monastery is famous for an illuminated manuscript, written here in the 7th century, known as the book of durrow. The evolution of celtic art was significantly influenced by military and political events.
Textual decoration flowers with the chi rho monogram of this text. Chi rho a monogram composed of the letter xp the greek chi and rho, the first two characters of christs name. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the. Book of kells, folio 292r with the beginning of the gospel of john. These elaborately decorated initials are found not only in luxury volumes such as the book of kells, the lindisfarne gospels fig. X marks the spot the monogram of christ early irish. Book of durrow chirho page of st matthew chi rho, saint matthew. The book of durrow and the question of programme anglo. This form of the cross originated in eastern mediterranean art and had a very specific meaning referring to the shape of a reliquary of the true cross, that contained the fragments of the cross on which christ was crucified along with the titulus the title board. The most important feature was the basic form of the cross itself, which probably evolved out of the chi rho monogram an even earlier christian symbol. X marks the spot the monogram of christ early irish manuscripts. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. There is no better example from the book of kells that portrays these words of art historians better than the chirho monogram page. Three angels arise from one of the cross arms of the chi.
Panel humans and birds, where one human foot extends over the left curve opposite to this one. A visual emphasis on the number eight in relation to the cross can be. The durrow manuscript was lost in the sixteenth century, at the time of the dissolution of durrow abbey, but recovered some 100 years later. Strictly speaking, rather than the book of kells, named after a town in county meath, it should be called the book of iona, as its thought that it was monks on that remote scottish island who. Durrow high cross and early christian monastic site st columcille 5th century durrow is the site of one of the earliest and most important monastery founded by st columcille about 550. Jun 15, 2016 x marks the spot the monogram of christ june 15, 2016 the library of trinity college dublin one of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig. Early christian manuscript art lindisfarne gospels carpetpage with cross 680 ce vellum. Leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library, ms a. George bains drawings from the book of kells, eight circled. Chi and rho are the first two letters of christ in greek christos. The lindisfarne gospels begins with a carpet page in the form of a cross and a major initial page, introducing the letter of st. The book of kells has a second chi rho abbreviation on folio 124 in the account of the crucifixion of christ, and in some manuscripts the chi rho occurs at the beginning of matthew rather than midtext at matthew 1. By the midfirst century ce most of the celtic lands including much of britain were absorbed into the roman empire, and only ireland and the north of britain remained. Chirhoiota are the first three letters of christs name in greek.
The place of creation may perhaps have been durrow abbey in ireland or a monastery in northumbria in northeastern england where the monastery at lindisfarne would be the likely candidate or perhaps iona abbey in western scotlandthe place of origin. But despite its renown, not much is known about its origins. West of the church is a fine high cross, the east face is pictured on the right, the head features christ with sceptre and cross. In the book of kells, the carpet page on folio 33r is positioned opposite the miniature of christ enthroned, folio 32v and followed by a blank folio 33v that in turn faces the splendidly decorated chi rho monogram on folio 34r.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think. Durrow discover tullamore tullamore directory accommodation. The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. The book of columba first, i should indicate that the book of kells is also called the book of columba, which presupposes that there was a columba. Durrow abbey is a historic site in durrow, county offaly in ireland. The book of kells, the book of durrow, comments on the vellum and the makeup and other aspects. Largely undisturbed, the site is an early medieval monastic complex of ecclesiastical and secular monuments, visible and subsurface. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular art style. The book of kells is one of irelands greatest treasures, and over 500,000 people from all over the world go each year to view its beauty. Book of kells mcgill university school of computer science. This miniature is the largest and most lavish extant chi rho monogram in any insular gospel books and is the culmination of a tradition that started with the book of durrow. This miniature is the largest and most lavish extant chi rho monogram in any insular gospel books and is the culmination of a tradition that started with the. The x was regarded as the crux decussata, a symbol of the cross.
The medieval artist did not go to nature for models but to a prototype another image, a statue, or a picture in a book. The blank verso of folio 33 faces the single most lavish miniature of the early medieval period, the book of kells chi rho monogram, which serves as incipit for the narrative of the life of christ. The lindisfarne gospels is a manuscript that contains the gospels of the four evangelists mark, john, luke, and matthew. The cross page from the book of kells shows many of the same fantastic beasts as the earlier cross, but now it has broken out of its little circle and looms large and conquering over the beasts. There is no better example from the book of kells that portrays these words of art historians better than the chi rho monogram page. The doublearmed cross is unusual in insular carpet pages and survives only in the book of durrow and kells. One of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chi rho page in the book of kells fig. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy, the. Some crosses of this type are from the 8th and 9th century, like the northern cross at ahenny, are covered in geometrical designs. Within this mass of decoration are hidden animals and insects.
Sometimes it is called the monogram of christ or chrismon or labarum. Roger stalleys early medieval architecture oxford university press, 1999 is a survey of extant architecture from the carolingian to. This early hiberno saxon gospel book has four pages devoted to the symbols of the four evangelists. Matthew, following the book of generation, which gives the genealogy of jesus christ, there is a highly decorated which contains a large x, a smaller p, and a smaller i. The book of durrow and the question of programme jstor. Patrick, like all effective missionaries, used the native beliefs of the irish to guide them to the gospel. Compare the cross page, from the lindisfarne gospels to the chi rho iota page from the gospel of matthew, book of kells. Dating from c ad800, it symbolizes the power of learning, the impact of christianity on the. There are sixteen pages of arcaded canon tables, where parallel passages of the four evangelists are laid out. Illuminated chirho page of the book of kells about richly illuminated manuscript on parchment, dimensions. Chi rho, chrismon, monogram of christ, or labarum early. Lawrence neess early medieval art oxford university press, 2002 provides a wonderful overview of the nonarchitectural arts of the period all organized into concise thematic units.
It is acknowledged on all sides that before the arrival of st. Carpet pages and chirhos dublin institute for advanced. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular script style. The book of kells contains two other fullpage miniatures, which illustrate episodes from the passion story. Analysis of monogram page chi rho one of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. Think of a teenagers school book, and how the words on it the owners name say can be elaborated with doodles that coast. Durrow high cross and early christian monastic site visit. It is located off the n52 some 5 miles from tullamore.
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