Folio 174v, Book of Kells
Imagine a book so masterfully made that it captures the hearts and minds of over half a million people a year. A book dubbed the “greatest manuscript of all time.” With details so intricate, they are often missed by the naked eye. A book that, for all intents and purposes, shouldn’t be around today.
Described as the “work of angels”, this is the Book of Kells. A book created by monks over 1,200 years ago. Let’s look at why the Book of Kells is important, its unique and storied history, its artistry, and how it continues to captivate people today.
Why is the Book of Kells Important?
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript and is considered the most famous of its kind. It is preserved today in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where it’s been on public display since the mid-19th century. It is housed in a climate-controlled room and attracts over 500,000 visitors a year.
The book was created by monks around 800 CE. It contains both Latin text and intricate illustrations that often cover entire pages. It contains 340 folios, equaling 680 pages.
The Book of Kells was originally bound as a single volume, but has since been divided into four volumes. The volumes are now displayed individually for conservation. The four volumes of the Book of Kells narrate and illustrate the four Gospels of the Christian Bible.
The Book of Kells’ Journey - Defying the Odds
Unlike some of its counterparts, the Book of Kells’ journey has defined the odds.
Medieval monasteries reveled in the production of sacred texts, and thousands of them, like the Book of Kells, were produced. Many of them were lost, and only a handful of them survive to this day.
Iona
The Island of Iona, now part of modern-day Scotland, was home to the monastery of St. Colum Cille, where it’s believed the Book of Kells was written or began around 800 CE.
Monasteries at that time were often targeted by Vikings, who looted them for their valuables. As an island, Iona was vulnerable to such attacks.
One of the more devastating Viking attacks on the Iona monastery left around 68 monks dead and the rest fleeing in boats to Ireland. Among the valuables they took with them was the Book of Kells.
But, while other valuables being transported away were lost to watery graves, luck seemed to be on the side of the Book of Kells. It made its way safely to Ireland and the Abbey of Kells.
The Abbey at Kells
The Book of Kells was relocated to a monastery, the Abbey at Kells. But the Abbey at Kells was also not immune to attacks, being attacked several times. Yet the Book of Kells remained unharmed.
But the book’s luck ran out, and it was stolen in 1007 CE. It wasn’t stolen because of its relevance, but rather for either its wrought metal binding, jeweled binding, or its placement in a gold shrine.
A couple of months after the invasion, the book was found, buried by the thieves. The majority of the book was recovered, minus the front and back pages attached to the binding, which most likely went with the ripped-off jeweled binding.
The Abbey of Kells was dissolved in the 12th century and turned into a parish church. The Book of Kells remained there until 1660. Due to the turmoil following the 1650 rebellion, the book was sent to Trinity College in Dublin for safekeeping, where it has remained ever since.
The Mastery Behind the Book of Kells
Creating an illuminated manuscript like the Book of Kells was a long and arduous process. The mastery behind the Book of Kells is seen in its craftsmanship, attention to detail, and vivid colors and imagery.
Craftsmanship
As an illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells followed in the same tradition of being written on vellum (prepared calfskin).
If you’re lucky to see the Book of Kells in person, as I have, it’s hard not to think about the human beings, the monks, who made it. They sat, day after day, committing devotion, patience, and imagination to the vellum. They most likely never imagined that a room full of travelers from around the world would one day lean in close, awe written across their faces.
The Book of Kells was likely produced by four scribes who copied the text and three artists (illuminators) who created the decorated pages.
There is debate over where the Book of Kells was created. It is thought to have begun at the monastery on Iona. After a Viking raid in 806, the surviving monks fled to Ireland with the manuscript, bringing it to the Abbey of Kells, where it may have been completed and remained for centuries, giving the book its name.
Visual Imagery
The Book of Kells was not made for everyday use; it was a ceremonial manuscript meant to sit on an altar and brought down for mass. Many people at the time of its creation were unable to read the Latin translation of the gospels, but they could understand the gospels through the imagery of the Book of Kells.
The imagery in the Book of Kells far surpasses any other illuminated manuscript of its time or perhaps ever since. Each page explodes with bold color and elaborate detail. Its pages are either large, intricate illustrations or text adorned with embellishments.
This was the beauty of the intense visual imagery. Layers upon layers of symbolism are woven throughout the Book of Kells, particularly in its animal imagery.
The Book of Kells is decorated with bright colors, elaborate knotwork, and detailed and abstract images of plants and animals. It is a beautiful fusion of Christian and Celtic symbolism.
A testamentary example of this visual imagery is found in the most famous page in medieval art within the Book of Kells. The Chi Rho page is a monogram of Christ when spelled out in Greek. It’s painstakingly beautiful, and you will most likely find yourself lost in its intricate details, not sure where to look next, trapped in its spell, mesmerized.
Book of Kells. Folio 34r: Matthew; Chi Rho
Color
The book's ornamental decoration was displayed in bright, vivid colors. The monks harvested the natural minerals and plants used to make the pigments.
It was once a mystery how the monks made the pigment colors. Recent advances in technology enabled the colors to be analyzed, which led to the discovery that the blue pigment was from the woad plant, rather than the original belief that it came from lapis lazuli.
The most common pigments were blue, yellow, red, and green.
Blue: The blue was made from the woad, a flowering plant.
Yellow: The yellow was made from yellow arsenic sulphide.
Red: The red was made from red lead or organic sources that are unidentified.
Green: A copper green made from a chemical reaction.
Of those pigments, blue is the second most common color used in medieval manuscripts. The blues draw you into the book, letting you feel something deeper, allowing you to revel in the sacredness of the book. Learn more about the blue pigment’s medieval story in The History of the Color Blue – Modern Medieval Press.
Inspired by The Book of Kells
It’s no surprise that the Book of Kells has been captivating and inspiring artists like myself for so long. I was blessed to encounter it during my visit to Ireland, and it’s the inspiration behind my piece, Celtic Knot Intertwined Birds.
Inspired by history, but with a flair of my modern touch, this artwork features two intertwined Celtic birds from the Book of Kells.
This intricate design of Celtic birds has been meticulously hand-drawn by me to capture the rich symbolism and beauty of Celtic art. The two birds are intertwined in an eternal dance, their wings and feathers flowing in graceful curves and loops.
A Book for the Ages
I can still remember the exact moment I came face-to-face with the Book of Kells. Even through the glass, its presence was undeniable. The ink and pigment may have been laid down over a century ago, but it still pulses with life. The interlacing patterns twist and turn with a confidence that suggests the maker knew, without question, that what they were creating mattered.
Why is the Book of Kells important? It may sound cliché, but the Book of Kells is truly one of a kind. Defying the odds of Viking Attacks, perilous sea journeys, and rebellion. Nothing else comes close to the lavish decoration it offers.
Art outlives its creator, yet it still connects people across time. The Book of Kells is proof of that. It's my wish for my art that it also is a bridge connecting people to a storied and beautiful past.
If you are enamored of the Book of Kells, as I am, or you simply appreciate beautiful and unique works of art, I would love for your eyes to graze over my art here and see if perhaps the Celtic Knot Intertwined Birds is what you desire, or another piece.