Monks and Books: Insular Art

Insular art = Hiberno-Saxon art

Iona Abbey, founded by St. Columba in the later 6th century

Page from the co-called Book of Kells, late 8th or early 9th century

Reading from a papyrus scroll, ancient Greek cup, ca. 440–435 BCE

Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century CE

PARCHMENT: animal skin, usually of a sheep, goat, or calf, prepared as a surface for writing or painting VELLUM: very fine parchment made of calfskin

Preparing parchment

Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century CE

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Gospel of John 1:1 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Gospel of John 1:14

Page from the co-called Book of Kells, late 8th or early 9th century

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (“Christ” in Greek) Page from the co-called Book of Kells, late 8th or early 9th century

Look more keenly at it, and you will penetrate to the very shrine of art. You will make out intricacies, so delicate and subtle, so exact and compact, so full of knots and links, with colors so fresh and vivid, that you might say that all this was the work of an angel, and not of a man. Gerald of Wales, 12th c.

Three main types of decoration in Insular Gospel books: Decorated initials Carpet pages Portraits and/or symbols of the evangelists

Beginning of the Gospel of John: In principio (“In the beginning was the Word”)., Book of Durrow, ca. 660–680

Carpet page, Book of Durrow,

Carpet page, Book of Durrow,

Finds from the ship burial discovered at Sutton Hoo, England, ca. 625 Purse cover Belt buckle

Man, symbol of the evangelist Matthew, Book of Durrow, ca. 660–680

Portrait of the Hebrew priest and scribe Ezra, Codex Amiatinus, early 8th century

Codex Amiatinus

When the sacred books were destroyed by fire, Ezra, inspired by God, restored this work. Portrait of the Hebrew priest and scribe Ezra, Codex Amiatinus, early 8th century