The Book of Kells

Fülszöveg

One of the most splendid, bcautifulh' illustrated books of die Middle Ages, The Book ofKdls has fascinated generations of artists and historians. As Sir Edward Sulli\ an wrote in his Introduction, 'Its weird and commanding beaut)'; its subdued and goldless colouring; the baffling intricac\' of its fearless designs; die clean, unwavering sweep of rounded spiral; the creeping undulations of serpentine forms that wridie in artistic profusion throughout the mazes of its decorations the quaintness of its striking portraiture . . . have raised this ancient Irish \olume to a position of abiding pre-eminence amongst die illuminated manuscripts of the world.'
In this famous commenrar\', Sulli\'an traces the historical background and origins of the manuscript and places it as a ninth centur\' manuscript, of a later date than the Book of Linciisfarne. Popular legend, howe\'er, has it diat The Book of Kells was produced by St Columba and the monks of the monaster)' of Kells about tlie... Tovább

Fülszöveg

One of the most splendid, bcautifulh' illustrated books of die Middle Ages, The Book ofKdls has fascinated generations of artists and historians. As Sir Edward Sulli\ an wrote in his Introduction, 'Its weird and commanding beaut)'; its subdued and goldless colouring; the baffling intricac\' of its fearless designs; die clean, unwavering sweep of rounded spiral; the creeping undulations of serpentine forms that wridie in artistic profusion throughout the mazes of its decorations the quaintness of its striking portraiture . . . have raised this ancient Irish \olume to a position of abiding pre-eminence amongst die illuminated manuscripts of the world.'
In this famous commenrar\', Sulli\'an traces the historical background and origins of the manuscript and places it as a ninth centur\' manuscript, of a later date than the Book of Linciisfarne. Popular legend, howe\'er, has it diat The Book of Kells was produced by St Columba and the monks of the monaster)' of Kells about tlie middle of the sixth centur}' A.D. Certainly, the ¦ manuscript sun ix ed many vicissitudes: the Abbey of Kells was sacked and pillaged during the tenth centur\'; thieves sought its gold-studded co\'er. It was in die possession of the monaster\' at Kells at the time of its dissolution under Henr\- VIII on 18th November 1539, and was latterly acquired by Bishop llssher, who was employed b\' King James I to collect antiquities relating to the Church. Five years after Ussher's death in 1661, it was transferred to Trinit)' College, Dublin, where it still resides.
The manuscript was mutilated b\' an eighteenth centur\' bookbinder, but in its present form consists of 339 pages measuring 13 x 9'/2 inches. The late Sir Edward Sullivan, an outstanding authorit)', made an exhaustive study of this magnificent example of eariy Celtic an especially for The Studio; his historical sur\ e\' and notes on the pages form the introduction to tlie reproductions in fttll colour of rv\'ent\' of the most beautifiil pages, and the four plates of initial letters. To complement Sullivan's text and these illustrations, this edition also includes an historical anahsis of Celtic illuminated manuscripts b\' Johan Adolf Bruun. Vissza