The book of durrow dublin trinity college library 7thcentury illuminated manuscript gospel book latin gospels. After drafting the pages last night, this has turned into three. The book of durrow, opening page, the gospel of saint mark, a. The manuscript contains a copy of the four gospels of the new testament, together with some prefaces. Unusually, the book of durrow symbolises john with a lion. Full and partial tables of contents are available for a small number of manuscripts. The book of kells the book of durrow comments on the vellum, the makeup, and other aspects. Werner, martin, the cross carpet page in the book of durrow. This type of decoration, pure embellishment, has no precedent in classical art. The book of durrow contains the complete compliment of insular designs. The book of durrow illustrates its independence from the classical tradition of papal rome. The tooled leather book binding of the st cuthbert gospel represents a simple carpet page in another medium, and the few surviving treasure bindings metalwork book covers or book shrines from the same period, such as that on the lindau gospels, are also close parallels. Taking all things into consideration, it is my very strong conviction that, unlike the book of kells, the book of durrow is entirely the work of one man.
The book of durrow contains 6 carpet pages full pages of abstract design, 4 fullpage depictions of each of the symbols of the evangelists not the men. Jul, 2016 the material aspects of our project manuscripts can give us insight into the writing and reading culture of early medieval ireland. Books, the book of durrow is the earliest employing crosscarpet and foursymbols folios. In it there is no bird theme on any of the seven carpet pages and the animal theme occurs but once. The first letter of the text is enlarged and decorated, with the following letters surrounded by dots. The opening words of each gospel are written in colours and adorned with geometric decorations.
Animal interlace of very high quality appears on folio 192v. The book of durrow, 7th c the book of durrow, or the codex usserianus i is perhaps the oldest surviving insular gospel, was written around 650675 either at the durrow abbey, county offaly, ireland, or in northumbria, england. In a recent study of the iconographic character of the cross carpet page lv opening the book of durrow dublin, trinity college a. The book of durrow contains 6 carpet pages full pages of abstract design, 4 full page depictions of each of the symbols of the evangelists not the men. The beginning of the gospel of mark from the book of durrow, with a lavishly designed capital n, folio 86. In it there is no bird theme on any of the seven carpet pages and the animal theme occurs but. 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. As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chirho page from the book of kells. Student answer book of kells book of durrow codex amiatinus lindisfarne gospels from art histor 1 at santa monica college. Full pages of decorative design called carpet pages were bound into the manuscript. Carpet page from book of durrow ca 66080 celtic art.
Carpet page with interlaced animals, folio 125v of the book of durrow. Islamic manuscripts, especially qurans, often have pages entirely devoted to complex geometrical decoration, but the term is not usually used of them. Our underestimation of the work involved in a singer. Posted by christian clay columba campbell 24 october 2012 25 october 2012 posted in general tags. The importance of the book of durrow and the book of kells. The doublearmed cross is unusual in insular carpet pages and survives only in the book of durrow and kells. Patrick, like all effective missionaries, used the native beliefs of the irish to guide them to the gospel. The book of durrow and the book of kells are often linkedthey are similar in content and style, although the book of durrow is simpler and its design work not as fine as the book of kells. Henderson, george david smith, from durrow to kells. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving fully decorated insular gospel books circa 650 ce 750 ce the book of durrow, which derives its name from the irish columban monastery of durrow, county offaly, is an early medieval gospel book decorated with carpet pages and. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving fully. Oct 25, 2012 posted by christian clay columba campbell 24 october 2012 25 october 2012 posted in general tags.
The design features a central cross and three circles, perhaps symbolizing the trinity, amongst celtic knotwork. The content of the prefaces is so close in nature to those in the book of kells, it is thought that this part of the book of durrow may have served as a model or exemplar for the kells scribes. Each gospel is accompanied by a symbol of the evangelist. The beautifully decorated book of durrow includes the text of the four gospels of the new testament. Each gospel begins with two full page illustrations.
There is a sense of space in the design of all the pages of the book of durrow. For a double page spread with a much larger version and its accompanying carpet page, go here. One of the most famous forms of medieval art, irish illustrated manuscripts like the book of durrow c. Jun 02, 2017 the book of kells is curious in that it only contains one carpet page, though parallels are found in other insular manuscripts such the book of durrow, and lindisfarne, durham and lichfield gospels. It has more open areas on the carpet pages and there are fewer bits of illumination among the lines of text. The small picture at the top is the beginning of marks gospel. Parallels with metalwork can be noted in the rectangular body of st matthew, which looks like a millefiori decoration, and in details of the carpet pages. Art, book of durrow, calligraphy, carpet page, cross carpet page, durrow, durrow abbey, hibernosaxon style, illuminated manuscripts, insular style leave a comment on book of durrow. Matthew page from the gospel book of durrow with the st. Estimated to have been created in the 7th century c. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving fully decorated.
These are known as carpet pages because of their similarity to persian rugs. A carpet page is a fullcolor page, usually highly decorated, which precedes a section of a gospel book, facing an image of one of the four evangelists and their symbols. Each section begins with a carpet page, or a full page illustration, representing. Ucf art history i exam 4 learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Carpet pages are also found in some medieval hebrew manuscripts, typically opening the major sections of the book. There is just one carpet page in the book of kells, now prefacing matthew 1. Cross and carpet page, lindisfarne gospels figure 161 a. Beginning of the gospel of mark in the book of durrow. The place of creation may perhaps have been durrow abbey in ireland or a monastery in northumbria in northeastern england or perhaps iona abbey in western scotlandthe place of origin has been debated by historians for decades without a consensus emerging. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular script style. The illuminated book was crafted at an unknown abbey in scotland iona or ireland durrow abbey or possibly a monastery in northumbria. In a recent study of the iconographic character of the crosscarpet page lv opening the book of durrow dublin, trinity college a. Dec 07, 2008 one of the book of durrow s famous carpet pages.
The book of durrow dublin, trinity college library, ms a. The library of trinity college dublin aside from the carpet pages the other focus of decoration is on illustrations of the four. The book of durrow far exceeds the cathach in its use of full page illustrations. Other motifs include spirals, triskeles, ribbon plaits and circular knots in the carpet pages and borders around the four evangelists. Book of durrow project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It is the oldest illustrated manuscript in ireland. The manuscript was written around 650675 either at the durrow abbey, county offaly, ireland, or in northumbria, england. Size, script, organization, and wear all give indications of how they have been used and treated over the centuries.
The decoration is greatly influenced by metalwork motifs. The book of durrow and the question of programme anglo. It was probably created between 650 and 700, in either durrow or northumbria in northern england, where lindisfarne or durham would be the likely candidates, or on the island of iona in the scottish inner hebrides. Art history, book of dimma, book of durrow, book of kells, book of mulling, devotional practices, reading. The material aspects of our project manuscripts can give us insight into the writing and reading culture of early medieval ireland. Chalice argumentum of st artist blank book of durrow book of kells breues causae british museum calf canon tables carpet page carpet pages causae of st christ colophon colour columban common to matthew coptic county offaly county westmeath croinin detail diminuendo doublearmed. What does this comparison demonstrate about the cultural and artistic influences exchanged in europe. It has been suggested that each gospel in the book of kells would have originally been preceded by a now lost decorated page. Other motifs include spirals, triskeles, ribbon plaits and circular knots in the carpet pages. Carpet page from book of durrow ca 66080 celtic art trinity. The list below has been collated from the table of contents if available on this page progress in this area is being made piecemeal.
Book of durrow is on its way to the british library. Jul 15, 2011 we started off with an ambitious goal. The innovations that the book of durrow brought to insular illuminated manuscript productionnamely large, decorated initial letters and carpet pages made purely for ornamentationcan be found within the lindisfarne gospels, especially in the greater elaboration and complexity of decorations calkins 63. Then a purely ornamental fullpage geometric design a carpet page, named after its resemblance to a persian rug. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. Like other illuminated bibles, before each gospel, theres a. Christianity, an introduction for the study of art history. In any case, the book of durrow is clearly earlier than the lichfield gospels book of lichfield c. The book of durrow contains the four gospels, each of which is preceded by carpet pages and the evangelist symbols. The rear of durrow castle in durrow county carlow ireland in wide angle under blue sky. The lion of john folio 191v of the book of durrow, between 650700 library at trinity college, dublin. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image. Wherever it was written, however, it ended up at the durrow abbey by the late eleventh or early twelfth century. The book of durrow also contains pages with elaborate illuminated initials, such as the chiro page.
Carpet pages typically found at the beginning of the four gospels of the new testament and include intricate geometric or animal designs. The relationship between the book hand, through the larger letters and those in colour, to the symbols and carpet pages, is very much clearer in the book of durrow than in the book of kells. Symbol of the evangelist matthew, gospel book of durrow. Each gospel is laid out with a fullpage miniature of the evangelist or his symbol. After an examination of the origins, nature, and spread of the cult of the true cross and its significant insular manifestations, the hypothesis is presented that. 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. The book of durrow is a seventhcentury christian gospel book, most likely made at a monastery on the island of iona in scotland. The manuscripts sources and inspiration stretch from ireland to anglosaxon england and from pictland. The book of durrow begins with a few carpet pages and the eusebian canon table the lists of parallel gospel passages. The picture shows one of the six elaborate carpet pages of interlaced patterns folio 3v. There are notable carpet pages in the book of kells, lindisfarne gospels, book of durrow, and other manuscripts.
The book of durrow is perhaps the earliest example of a fully decorated insular gospel book. The book of durrow was probably at durrow abbey by 916. Folio 192 verso at the beginning of the st john gospel is one of the magnificent carpet pages that book illumination in the british isles so delightfully specialized in. The book of durrow the library of trinity college dublin. Adomnan animals antrim cross ardagh chalice argumentum of st artist blank book of durrow book of kells breues causae british museum calf canon tables carpet page carpet pages causae of st christ colophon colour columban common to matthew coptic county offaly county westmeath croinin detail diminuendo doublearmed cross durham gospels durrow. Matthew writing his gospel, lindisfarne gospel book. Decorating medieval gospel books the book of kells. The carpet pages are so named because they resembled the intricate carpets and tapestries produced during the same time period throughout western europe. The book of durrow is the oldest illuminated gospel manuscript of the insular art tradition. It is a gospel book containing the four gospels matthew, mark, luke, john together with the canon tables and some prefatory pages. The book of durrow and the question of programme martin werner in a recent study of the iconographie character of the cross carpet page lv opening the book of durrow dublin, trinity college a. The striking resemblance to an actual carpet is purely coincidental. In due course, they were followed by medieval christian artworks such as carolingan and byzantine illuminated manuscripts. Book of durrow this design is based on a carpet page from the book of durrow, a 7th century celtic manuscript created at durrow monastery in county offaly, ireland.
This was a mixed blessing since on one hand carpet pages with their complex interlacing patterns may have been believed capable of protecting the words in the manuscripts and on the other, it was a belief in its healing powers that led to the book of durrow being used to try to cure sick cattle by dipping it in a trough during the 17 th century. The manuscripts sources and inspiration stretch from ireland to. The manuscripts sources and inspiration stretch from ireland to anglosaxon england. 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. The privileged occasions of repairing and rebinding the book of kells during 1953 and the book of durrow during 1954 offered opportunities for examining both books such as had not occurred for nearly sixty years. The book of durrow contains 6 carpet pages full pages of abstract design, 4 fullpage depictions of each of the symbols of the evangelists not the men themselves, as in the book of kells or lindisfarne gospels and a separate single page showing all four evangelist symbols together.
It contains a large illumination programme including six extant carpet pages, a full page miniature of the four evangelists symbols, four full page. Its exact date and place of composition are uncertain. Briefly describe a crossinscribed carpet page from the lindisfarne gospels. Typically these are located at the start of each gospel. One of the carpet pages called the biting animals shows the first example. The book of durrow is the oldest surviving fully illustrated gospel book from these islands. Art history 105 exam 4 blackwood flashcards quizlet. The designs used on these pages, known as carpet pages because of their similarity to persian rugs, suggests that the artist was familiar with the art of a number.