I sometimes have trouble finding satisfying discussions of illuminated manuscripts in general art history. The library also has provided an introductory page to the book of kells. Book of kells has been digitised by trinity college dublin, where the manuscript is kept. The book is written on vellum prepared calfskin in a bold and expert version of the script known as insular majuscule.
The book of kells, tcd ms 58, folio 34r detail trinity college dublin. The book of kells is available online as a digital copy through the trinity college library in dublin which has the book in its permanent collection. Chi rho page folio 34r book of kells chi rho page folio 34r books of kells c. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ. Folio 34 matthew book of kells pinup real ireland picture press. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin.
The chi rho page, the book of kells, tcd ms 58, folio 34r. Book of kells digital collections tcd trinity college dublin. The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthew s account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. The book of kells is the most richly decorated of irelands medieval manuscripts. Opening of st matthews nativity account, matthew 1. One of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig. Facing this miniature, on folio 33r, is the only carpet page in the book of kells, which is rather anomalous. You can see a highres copy of the book of matthew, for example, with folio 34 here. Aside from its spectacular beauty, another thing that makes the book of kells particularly interesting is the symbolism in its illuminations. These elaborately decorated initials are found not only in luxury volumes such as the book of kells, the lindisfarne gospels fig. There are portraits of matthew and john, but no portrait of mark or luke survives.
Book of kells, folio 34r by nikeyvv on deviantart january 2020 egg tempera and acrylic paint on canvas 16x 12406 x 305 mm size nikolay valchev book of kells, folio 34r. Its called book of columba because theres a legend that it was created singlehandedly by st. It contains 340 folios, now measuring approximately 330 x 255 mm. Columba, who brought the gospel to scotland in the 6th century. Chi and rho are the first two letters of the word christ in greek. The blank verso of folio 33 faces the single most lavish miniature of the early medieval period, the book of kells chi rho monogram, which serves as. The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew. As a startingpoint, go to their website and scroll down to find folio 34r.
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