The book of Durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript created between the years 650 and 700. Much debate has been done over the actual date of the book. However, if written around the late seventh century, the Book of Durrow can be considered the earliest surviving fully decorated insular Gospel manuscript. Insular means the type of style that the book was written in. It originates from the Irish monasticism of Celtic Christianity and was mainly used to describe the decoration in an illuminated manuscript. Insular is the latin term for "island". The style is most famous for its highly dense and intricate decorations, combining spirals, different geometric forms, and animals. The text itself is written in an Irish majuscule script.
The traditional association of the Book of Durrow is with the monastery of Durrow, about six kilometres north of Tullamore in the Country of Offaly. However, some argue that it may come from a monastery in Northumbria in Northeastern England, or Iona Abbey in Western Scotland.
The text includes the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as prefatory work and canon fables. Each Gospel is prefaced by a page depicting the sign of the apostle, followed by a carpet page (a page of abstract decoration), which is turn followed by the decorated text. The man represents St. Matthew, the eagle is for St. Mark, the ox/calf symbolizes St. Luke, and finally the lion for St. John.
The book includes 248 vellum folios and the pages are 245 by 145 mm. It is closely associated with the Book of Kells and currently is located at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
"The Man"
"The Eagle"
"The Ox"
"The Lion"
"Irish Majuscule Style"
The traditional association of the Book of Durrow is with the monastery of Durrow, about six kilometres north of Tullamore in the Country of Offaly. However, some argue that it may come from a monastery in Northumbria in Northeastern England, or Iona Abbey in Western Scotland.
The text includes the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as prefatory work and canon fables. Each Gospel is prefaced by a page depicting the sign of the apostle, followed by a carpet page (a page of abstract decoration), which is turn followed by the decorated text. The man represents St. Matthew, the eagle is for St. Mark, the ox/calf symbolizes St. Luke, and finally the lion for St. John.
The book includes 248 vellum folios and the pages are 245 by 145 mm. It is closely associated with the Book of Kells and currently is located at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
"Carpet page"
Sources
“Book of Durrow.” Wikipedia, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Durrow
Meehan, Bernard. The Book of Durrow: A medieval masterpiece at Trinity College Dublin . Dublin: Town House, 1996.
Chanel,
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting! I did not even know the Book of Kells existed, yet alone another one similar to it. Isn't it just amazing how the authors were able to put such precision into such a small area? Great post!
Chanel,
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is fantastic. The pictures are absolutely wonderful and so bright and colorful. Can you imagine being back in the 7th century trying to create something like this? Its more amazing because the process of making the materials alone was probably extremely strenuous (not to mention the process of putting all of these pieces of art together.) I become more and more impressed with artwork from this time era every time someone posts a blog. Great job!