As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. X marks the spot the monogram of christ trinity college dublin. The book of kells and the chirho page by lisa spangenberg december 25, 2010 april 28, 2017 medieval manuscripts thanks to the lovely film the secret of kells, large numbers of people who have never taken an art history class or studied paleography now know about the book of kells. Journal book of kells quoniam hardcover july 1, 2001 by paperblanks book company author 5. The book of kells isnt the only illuminated manuscript in the socalled insular style. The book of kells is a splendid example of medieval manuscript art.
The annals of ulster, describing it as the chief treasure of the western world, record that it was stolen in 1006 for its ornamental cumdach shrine. Sequential xps in the carolingian godescalc evangelistary. The book of kells is an artistic masterpiece acclaimed as the most beautiful book ever written. One amazing work that managed to survive through these tumultuous times was the book of kells. The question also arises, are the dead affected by the fortunes of their descendants or friends. It remained at kells throughout the middle ages, venerated as the great gospel book of st colum cille, a relic of the saint, as. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. Leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library. The chi rho iota page from the famous hiberno saxon manuscript book of kells from arh 252 at university of alabama. The first public use of the chi rho symbol was on the labarum, the shield of constantines warriors in the battle of. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. The next notable date in the book of kells history, was in the early eleventh century, probably 1006 or 1007, when the chief relic of the western world was stolen.
Ornamental celebration of christs initial mention in text 3. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. 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. In insular books whatever symbolic importance the xp i incipit may have had seems to have been concentrated in the first letter. It felt like a bunch of irrelevancies muddled up in a semiinteresting plot. Trinity college library, dublin that is a masterpiece of the ornate hibernosaxon style. His is certainly the greatest page of the book of kells, the fabulous chi rho page so called after the greek initial letters of christs name. There are enough puzzles and conundrums in this masterpiece, not to mention splendid images and aweinspiring calligraphy, to intrigue students and scholars at austin college and texas christian. For analysis and explanation of other important pictures from the renaissance, see. Its pages, or as they are called, folios are made from vellum.
Monks from the original monastery founded by st columba also set up other monastic communities including. Chapter xi friendship and justice under different constitutions summary each governmental form exhibits a form of friendship. The initial chi in kells dramatically fills up more than half the page, leaping like a giant acrobat over the small upright rho and iota below. Chirho artists who did this were known as the illuminators illumination and patterns 4 evangelists matthew, mark, luke, john matthew is represented by the man. Among these unprecedented rich illuminations the chi rho page fig. This page has become known as the chirho monogram page.
In this illumination the chi is the dominant form, an x with uneven arms, somewhat resembling a pair of curvaceous pliers. It is acknowledged on all sides that before the arrival of st. The chi rho is a christian symbol for christ written by superimposing the two greek letters chi x and rho p which are the first two letters in greek of the name of christ. 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. Christi is written with the monogram chi rho, or in greek, autem is abbreviated with the. One such example of an isolated description can be found in a recent edition of gardners art through the ages, which discusses the chirhoiota xpi page, folio. Analysis of monogram page chi rho one of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art.
The book arrived carefully packaged in corrugated, and the book itself was sealed in plastic and in perfect condition. The actual writing of the book of kells is in itself the embodiment the handwriting in the ms. The book of kells washingtoncenterville public library. The chi rho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. The book of kells was probably made at the monastery of iona at the end of the eighth. Sadly, the precise meaning of these symbols is lost to us today. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ. Best of all was the chance to visit the book of kells as many times as i wanted. Chi rho is one of the oldest examples of this art form. 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. Folio 34r of the book of kells is the chi rho page, expanding the first two letters of the word christ. The book of kells less widely known as the book of columba is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by celtic monks around ad 800.
The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthews account of the nativity. The secret of kells what is this remarkable animated. Of its 680 surviving pages, only two have no decoration at all. In a time when the british isles were bombarded by raids from the ferocious vikings of the scandinavian peninsula, many works great works of art were destroyed. Book of kells dublin trinity college library chi rho.
The book of kells is one of many gospel manuscripts written from the late sixth century to the early ninth century. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four. Book arrived just a few days later and was in near perfect condition. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ.
Trinity college, summary information on the manuscript. Jerome in the year 384 ad meehan, 1994 and old latin, which is the version of the bible that preceded the one completed by st. Often, beautiful works were buried underground for safety. The textual component of the manuscript is a mix of vulgate, which is the version of the bible completed by st. The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew.
The films simple plot and premise is based on facts. Matthews account of the nativity 3 the page is illustrated with images of animals and people. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think. The text of the day is open to luke, chapter sixteen, verse ten. It contains the four gospels of the bible in latin, along with prefatory and explanatory. The page is rich in multilayered symbolism intended to engage its monastic audience with a range of eucharistic and christological themes. The rho stands in its shelter, with its loop turned into a spiral. The book of kells is in fact a copy of the new testament of the bible. The text is written in long lines, instead of columns, using a. The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times the book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. Leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library, ms a.
The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image. With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone, producing pages that glistened like honey, sweetening the word of god. The book of kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. Be careful, though, the only things that go in the main namespace are tropes and should be created through the ykttw system. This page opens account of jesus in gospels of saint matthew. A christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of jesus christ, traditionally used as a christian symbol. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. The chi rho iota page from the famous hiberno saxon. The initial n, made up of blond men facing off, grappling and tugging at each others beards, becomes the first word in the section that warns us that no servant can serve two masters. The book of kells bok has been described as a luxury gospel manuscript farr, 1997.
It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland or may have had contributions from various columban institutions from both. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. The book of kells itself doesnt even feature into the story very much, only for a couple of scenes, that have absolutely no bearing on the actual events in the story. The site for celtic studies, and the medieval celtic studies blog scela. Book of kells dublin trinity college library chi rho monogram greek alphabet x from art 3303 at texas tech university. Previous posttools of the trade writing in early medieval irelandnext postxrf analysis on the garland of howth. It is one of the more lavishly illuminated manuscripts to survive from the middle ages and has been described as the zenith of western calligraphy and illumination. This page occurs in many other insular manuscripts, but they cannot compare to the intricate decoration of the book of kells. After a detail from the chi rho page of the book of kells. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. Book of kells chi rho illumination of ancient christogram. Read more read less by scott m on december 27, 2019. In the late 11th and 12th centuries, blank pages and spaces on folios 5v7v and.
If you want to start a analysis thesecretofkells page, just click the edit button above. The book of kells, also known as the book of columba, is an ornately illustrated manuscript gospel that was produced around 800 by celtic monks. The letters xpi are the greek abbreviation for the word christi or christ. The 11th century annals of ulster describe the book of kells as. Later, in beautiful insular majuscule, the open letters filled in red and blue, we read you cannot serve both god. Throughout the book of kells, there are very few names that are abbreviated. Initial letters of christ in greek xpi chirhoiota, nearly all page. An illuminated manuscript written around 800ce, this exquisite work of art has stood for 1,200 years as the greatest example of medieval illumination and is one of the most studied books in the world. The most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first letters of the. Fainche ryan explores the hidden meanings behind the illustrations of the book of kells. Symbolism and images used in medieval manuscripts to abbreviate christ illustrations of animals and characters. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells. Currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year.
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