The library is home to one of the rare full color facsimiles created in order to increase education, study and access to the book of kells located at trinity college in dublin. Irelands book of kells is considered to be one of the greatest examples of an illustrated manuscript. The book of kells is a vellum gospel book profusely and brilliantly decorated, one of the greatest achievements of european decorative art, produced in the columban mission field, perhaps at iona, 775800. The exhibit, and the library above were both more interesting to me. Book of kells united nations educational, scientific and cultural. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. I arrived at the library exhibit entrance and purchased my ticket to view the book just before it started to rain. In 2012 bernard meehan, head of research collections and keeper of manuscripts at trinity college library, and author of numerous prior studies of the manuscript, published a spectacular and elegant analysis of the manuscript in art book format entitled simply the book of kells. Monks produced illuminated manuscripts between the 5th and th centuries ce. The book of kells isnt the only illuminated manuscript in the socalled insular style. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four. After a viking raid the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. The mcclelland librarys book of kells exhibit includes paneling and information provided by the curators of the original at trinity college as well.
The original is admired by countless visitors on display at trinity college library in dublin, but some of its most coveted patterns include its intricate braiding which you can. The book of kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. The decoration builds on the earlier tradition of the. Trinity college in dublin, to be exact, holds many a wondrous treasure for the insatiable scholar and fewer curiosities for the vaguely obligated tourist. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript that is basically an early illustrated bible, which includes the four gospels and the life of jesus christ. A lot of this has to do with the very precise illumination of the manuscript. It contains the latin texts of the four christian gospels, but thats actually its least noteworthy feature. The most popular theory posits that the book was either created on the island of iona, or its production was begun at iona. It consists of 340 folios made from calfskin vellum. The book of kells is located in trinity college in the heart of dublin city centre. The most characteristic ornaments of the book of kells, as of other illuminated irish manuscripts of the period, are the closely coiled spirals connected with each other by a number of curves and terminating in the socalled trumpet pattern. Uses of the book of kells in the early middle ages, books were transcribed for a number of reasons. Apr 19, 2019 trinity college in dublin, to be exact, holds many a wondrous treasure for the insatiable scholar and fewer curiosities for the vaguely obligated tourist.
The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. It is the finest existing example of the irish monastic school of illumination, which provided ireland, britain, and continental europe with numerous beautiful manuscripts, only a small number of which now remain westwood. Hence the gorgeous patterning and loops characteristic of. Later, the book and its creator fled iona when it was sacked by vikings, where it ultimately ended up at the abbey of kells. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. The book gets its name from the monastery of kells, county meath, ireland. The bricks and mortar of dublins streets provide the stage to what is a truly great city, a city built on hundreds of years of history and culture. The first time i saw an illustration from the book of kells, in an art history class, i fell in love. It is best known as the site of kells abbey, from which the book of kells takes its name. The book of kells is preserved at trinity college, dublin. The book of kells is one of the worlds most famous and beautiful manuscripts of the four gospels of the new testament written in latin. Throughout all of art history, one of the most distinct styles and types has been that of the irish, or celtic art.
The book of kells washingtoncenterville public library. It contains the words of the four gospels of the bible and. It remained at kells throughout the middle ages, venerated as the great gospel book of st colum cille, a relic of the saint, as. The book of kells is widely regarded as irelands greatest historical treasure, and is one of. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. An illuminated manuscript written around 800ce, this exquisite work of art has stood for 1,200 years as the greatest example of medieval illumination and is one of the most studied books in the world. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation. It is irelands most precious medieval artifact and is generally considered the finest surviving illuminated manuscript to have been produced in medieval europe. The book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of new testament matthew, mark, luke and john together with various prefatory texts and tables. For me, it held one of the crown jewels of literature, the book of kells. We next hear of it at the cathedral of kells irish cenannus in meath, a.
I thought that everybody was familiar with the book of kells, but i see thats not true, so let me explain what the book of kells is and why its so special. The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times the book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. This must be the book which the welshman, geraldus cambrensis, saw at kildare in the last quarter of the twelfth century and which he describes in glowing terms topogr. Oct 22, 2019 the book of kells is a medieval illuminated manuscript handwritten and decorated by irish monks living in the british isles around 800 ce. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin.
The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed. Its page depicting the appearance of jesus christs name. They might be made as an addition to a monasterys library, for use during mass, as diplomatic gifts, tools for travelling or evangelising clerics, andor as a means of displaying the wealth and status of a particular church. The book of kells is an ancient manuscripta book written out by hand long before printing was invented. The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. The town lies off the m3 motorway, 16 km 10 mi from navan and 65 km 40 mi from dublin. The book of kells is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces in both irish art and early christian art. It is probable that the illumination was begun in the late 8th century at the irish monastery on the scottish island of iona and that after a viking raid the. The book was found in the abbey of kells, hence its name the book of kells. The illustrations and ornamentation of the book of kells surpass that of other insular gospels in. A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.
This official guide by the former keeper of manuscripts at the library of trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art. Book of kells the catholic encyclopedia religionfacts. It is the finest existing example of the irish monastic school of illumination, which provided ireland, britain, and continental europe with numerous beautiful manuscripts, only a. The book of kells is a stunningly beautiful manuscript containing the four gospels. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables it was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. Kells, book of,an irish manuscript containing the four gospels, a fragment of hebrew names, and the eusebian canons, known also as the book of columba, probably because it was written in the monastery of iona in honor of the saint. The book of kells, an illuminated manuscript containing the four gospels of new testament, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of celtic design and caligraphy youll be dazzled by coin, cross, and braid cuts adorning the exterior above a contemporary footed base offers a stunning visual rhythm all the way around the crystal decorative bowl. The book of durrow, lichfield gospels, and the lindisfarne gospels rank in a similar period, but even among those three, the book of kells has a unique position of veneration. The book of kells is one of the finest and most famous, and also one of the latest, of a group of manuscripts in what is known as the insular style, produced from the late 6th through the early 9th centuries in monasteries in ireland, scotland and england and in continental monasteries with hibernoscottish or anglosaxon foundations. It is also widely regarded as irelands finest national treasure. Book of kells irish cultural center and mcclelland library.
The book is believed to have been brought to kells following a viking. Collection guide summary abstract limited edition fine art facsimile of the book of kells circa 800 ad, one of the worlds most famous illuminated manuscripts. Trinity college, summary information on the manuscript. Book of kells kid connection irish cultural center and. The actual book of kells is in a closed case and open to one page, which changes and may not be open to a really decorative page the day you are there. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. Its pages, or as they are called, folios are made from vellum. Feb 27, 2020 the book of durrow, lichfield gospels, and the lindisfarne gospels rank in a similar period, but even among those three, the book of kells has a unique position of veneration. It is an extremely fine example of insular art, works of art produced in britain and ireland after the departure of the romans, and many people consider it to be one of irelands national treasures.
Trinity college library, dublin that is a masterpiece of the ornate hibernosaxon style. View the worlds most famous medieval manuscript, the book of kells, a 9th century documentation of the four gospels of. Unesco communication and information memory of the world. This beautiful slipcased book has fullsized photographs in color of every page in the original book of kells, plus interesting and explanative text, and lots of closeups of the fantastic interlace designs. The book of kells is an artistic masterpiece acclaimed as the most beautiful book ever written. The book of kells was probably produced in a monastery on the isle of iona, scotland, to honor saint columba in the early 8th century. The images in the book of kells and other illuminated.
The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the vetus latina. It was created by celtic monks some time around 800 ad. It contains the words of the four gospels of the bible and is decorated with many beautiful pictures called illuminations. Apr 28, 2020 the book of kells is an illuminated manuscript that contains the four gospels of the new testament, along with various supporting material. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables. The book of kells the library is home to one of the rare full color facsimiles created in order to increase education, study and access to the book of kells located at trinity college in dublin. The book of kells is in fact a copy of the new testament of the bible. The book of kells is the most beautiful manuscript in the world of the latin gospels. The book of kells is a permanent exhibit located within the mcclelland library. The debate centers on whether the book was begun on iona and finished at.
The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. It was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. The book of kells is inches wide and 10 inches high. Nov 22, 2019 the book of kells is a stunningly beautiful manuscript containing the four gospels. They might be made as an addition to a monasterys library, for use during mass, as diplomatic gifts, tools for travelling or evangelising clerics, andor as a means of displaying the. Monks from the original monastery founded by st columba also set up other monastic communities including. I got a lot of confused questions yesterday while unboxing my deluxe the book of kells by bernard meehan. The book of kells was produced in the insular style, an early medieval style developed in the british isles and ireland. Apr 19, 20 the book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions. The book was created sometime around the year 800 but scholars have been unable to determine where. The book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of.
The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript that contains the four gospels of the new testament, along with various supporting material. Nov 05, 2015 the book is believed to have been brought to kells following a viking raid on the monastery on the island of iona, scotland, in 806. Sometimes this style is referred to as hibernosaxon, and it denotes the melding of anglo saxon and celtic art. What this means is that the illustrations of a book, often a bible or the gospels, are decorated with gold or silver leaf in addition to vibrant. The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the. Sep 27, 2015 i mentioned the book of kells in an earlier posting. Vellum is made from the skin of calves, sheep or less frequently, goat kids, but in the case of the book of kells, calfskin was predominantly used. The book of kells, an illuminated manuscript containing the four gospels of the new testament, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of celtic design and calligraphy. Unlike other manuscripts that have been produced, the book of kells did not document its creation. The exhibition that houses the ancient texts also provides for a visit of the old library which is well worth seeing. With evan mcguire, brendan gleeson, mick lally, christen mooney. The lavishly decorated book has been around since 800 a. Celtic art is set apart from other kinds of art based upon the heavy use of the various knotwork patterns and designs, by the usage of the colors violet, brown, yellow, blue and green, and particularly in the book of kells, the angular runic styles of font.
89 348 68 790 564 511 1104 614 1159 1159 839 450 581 1120 922 1426 372 510 1193 391 1338 129 683 749 1137 645 1331 1085 1252 661 167 324 1087 526 1429 389 820 782 1084 113 1266