Together with the gospels of lindisfarne and the book of durrow, i would say that the book of kells is one of the greatest contributions to medieval art ever to come out of the british isles. In the library of trinity college since the mid17th century, this edition includes the most important of its fully decorated pages plus a series of enlargements. Following the rebellion of 1641, the church at kells lay in ruins, and around 1653 the book was sent to dublin by the governor of kells, charles lambert, earl of cavan, in the interests of its safety. To see the book of kells and the old library for half price, visit 30 minutes before the library closes. The greatest achievement of irish medieval art, the book of kells, was formerly held to be earlier than the lindisfarne gospels which are dated approximately from 700 ce but is now generally assigned to the late eighth or early ninth century.
Book of durrow is on its way to the british library. New research is rewriting the history of the worlds most famous early medieval manuscript a lavishly illustrated 1,200yearold copy of the gospels known today as the book of kells. It uses lovely, full colour, reproductions to draw one in to the wonderful world of the. The book contains illustrations and texts of the four biblical gospels. Explore the history of ireland through one of irelands most popular tourist attractions and the worlds most famous medieval manuscripts, the book of kells at trinity college dublin.
The book of kells isnt the only illuminated manuscript in the socalled insular style. The book of kells is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces in both irish art and early christian art. Monks from the original monastery founded by st columba also set up other monastic communities including. The 12thcentury writer gerald of wales, in his topographia hibernica, described seeing a great gospel book in kildare which many have since assumed was the book of kells. This illustrated version of the gospels was created around a. This is a precautionary measure to minimise the spread of covid19. Its page depicting the appearance of jesus christs name. The book of kells the book of kells is the most decorated illuminated manuscript to survive from the early medieval period in europe. Vellum is made from the skin of calves, sheep or less frequently, goat kids, but in the case of the book of kells, calfskin was predominantly used. It is a masterpiece of medieval art that beautifully depicts the four gospels in fullpage of. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. Its pages, or as they are called, folios are made from vellum.
Enjoy ease of access with online fasttrack ticket entry to the book of kells. The two ways to avoid paying the 10 fee to see the books of kells are as follows. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour 2020. This may sound like circuitous logic, but the book of kells has been well known for a very long time. The book of kells is an amazing book of manuscripts created in ireland. This official guide by the former keeper of manuscripts at the library of trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art. Discover the book of kells through trinity colleges free. Of all the books at the old library, the most famous and priceless one is the book of kells. The book of kells is inches wide and 10 inches high. It is probable that the illumination was begun in the late 8th century at the irish monastery on the scottish island of iona and that after a viking raid the.
See more ideas about book of kells, illuminated manuscript and illuminated letters. Its illustrations feature 59 fullsize reproductions of complete pages of the manuscript, and, in addition, enlarged details that allow one to relish the intricacy of. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation. It is now reissued in a completely restructured, rewritten, redesigned and freshly illustrated edition. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin. Apr 22, 2014 the library of trinity college dublin would like to announce that the book of kells in. The book of durrow, lichfield gospels, and the lindisfarne gospels rank in a similar period, but even among those three, the book of kells has a unique position. Book of kells now free to view online book of kells, illuminated. The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the vetus latina. The book of kells is a masterpiece of medieval art. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college dublin paperback march 24, 2020 by.
These relics included the two gospels, one of them probably the book of kells, the other perhaps the book of durrow. We have a few wellpreserved illustrated manuscripts from before the 12th century. The exquisite illustrations in the book of kells has been a source of. I was priveleged to view the original 3 times, twice at its home in the trinty college library, dblin, and once in the late 70s at the philadelphia museum of art when the national. The book of kells is in fact a copy of the new testament of the bible. Generally believed to have been written by monks in the scriptorium of the monastery founded by st columcille on the hebridean island of iona, it was moved to a new monastery in kells, co meath, after a viking raid on iona in the early ninth century. Im glad to have the text because it does explain a lot, but the real star of the show is, of course, the illustrations from the book of kells. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables it was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. It is also possible, however, that john may never have been completely copied. The book of kells is a masterpiece of medieval arta brilliantly decorated version of the four gospels with fullpage depictions of christ, the virgin and the. You will explore the 9th book of kells rich ornamentation, multilayered symbolism and meaning.
Located in the heart of dublin city, a walk through the cobbled stones of trinity college dublin will bring visitors back to the 18th century, when the magnificent old library building was constructed and which displays the book of kells. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript begun in the scottish city of iona in 800 a. The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. There are 250 illustrations, 230 of them in color, with both full page. How to see dublins book of kells for free or half price. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800.
This book contains the harmony of the four evangelists according to jerome, where for almost every page there are different designs, distinguished by varied colours. An extended illustrated essay about the book of kells. We wish to inform you that the book of kells and old library exhibition will temporarily close to visitors until further notice. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition 9780500277904 by meehan, bernard and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four. It is known as an illuminated manuscript, or in other words an elaborately decorated and illustrated bible made from vellum calf skin and painstakingly painted by hand.
The book of kells, a masterful illuminated latin gospel form ca. A masterpiece of medieval art, the book of kells was created between the 7th and 10th centuries, a period of time when irish monasticism was in the vanguard ofchristian culture. Here are ten things you should know about this ancient masterpiece. The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september. How to see the book of kells for half price or free. Discover one of the most important highlights of irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. This edition reproduces the most important of the fully decorated pages plus a series of enlargements showing the almost unbelievable minuteness of the detail. The book of kells, the book of kells exhibition, trinity.
This decision has been made to protect the health and safety of our visitors and the university community. The book of kells was probably produced in a monastery on the isle of iona, scotland, to honor saint columba in the early 8th century. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. It is thought the book was created as a showpiece for the altar, not for daily use, because more. I will be returning to certain images from this over and over. The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations.
939 26 773 1183 1368 814 1443 687 1425 618 310 927 688 292 1098 460 86 1165 1287 433 994 1077 448 973 1462 187 964 1415 1427 1436 1422 925