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The Book of Kells - Page 4

Page 4

Jul 3, 2000

Another striking feature of the Book of Kells is the abundance of decoration that accompanies the text-only two pages are without it. The author points out that what's amazing about this fact is that nowhere in the book does the artist copy another drawing - each composition is fresh, unique, and innovative. His work is truly unparalleled. Modern artists have tried to copy his work and have abandoned the task as hopeless.

I had always heard the Book of Kells was important and beautiful, but never delved into exactly why until now. Studying its paintings, decorated initials, and intricate coils, knots, geometric designs, draped figures, and strange intertwined beasts, even across the expanse of time, left me with a feeling of its mystery and power.

Special Mention

These copyright-free illuminated letters are available from the Dover collection of Illuminated Initials in full Color selected and arranged by Carol Belanger Grafton.

Works Consulted:

The Book of Kells: reproductions from the manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin; with a study of the manuscript by Francoise Henry. Knopf: New York, 1974.

Columba Edmonds, transcribed by Paul Knutsen. "The Lindisfarne Gospels." The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX. Copyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight.

Chris Owen. WebMuseum, Paris. http://metalab.unc.edu/louvre/rh/what.ht...

Jean Longnon and Raymond Cazelles. Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Copyright Christus Rex, Inc. and Michael Olteanu, MS. Last Revision: December 24, 1997.

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16. Aug 30, 2000 3:05 PM
I hope you can find the Book of Kells at your library, again it was a total shock to me that our little county library possessed this book. And I had always heard that the Book of Kells is exceedingly ...

-- posted by suzannemhill

15. Aug 30, 2000 11:59 AM
Wow, this is great. I love to paint, and the information, links, pictures are not to be missed by me any longer.

I followed a link to view Adam and Eve and it is beautiful. It is the type of book ...

-- posted by BettyPine

14. Jul 11, 2000 3:44 PM
Yes, I saw that quote, I believe it was included in The Books of Kells (the edition with all the reproductions) I refer to in my article. I had no idea just what beauty and level of expertise I would ...

-- posted by suzannemhill

13. Jul 11, 2000 8:52 AM
I'm still in awe at how they did it, without microscopes, computers, White-Out, and photocopiers. In George Bain's Celtic Art: the Methods of Construction (NY: Dover Publications, 1973), the a ...

-- posted by Ognyen

12. Jul 9, 2000 6:35 PM
Well, that's too bad, Jerri, but i believe you did what you could. I can't believe no one would put their feelings in writing. I love doing stuff like that!

Thanks for the update.
cheers,
Suzanne ...

-- posted by suzannemhill

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