The letters themselves are the centrepiece of the folio. Best of all was the chance to visit the book of kells as many times as i wanted. The two reproduction volumes are bound by otto walter ltd. The manuscript today comprises 340 leaves or folios. 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. The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthews account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. The book of kells chi rho monogram folio 34r 8th century trinity college library dublin. One of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig.
The book of kells 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. I sometimes have trouble finding satisfying discussions of illuminated manuscripts in general art history. Folio 34r contains the chi rho monogram, which serves as the incipit for the narrative of the life of christ. As a startingpoint, go to their website and scroll down to find folio 34r. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ. The chi rho page, the book of kells, tcd ms 58, folio 34r. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four. See more ideas about book of kells, celtic art and illuminated manuscript. Book of kells has been digitised by trinity college dublin, where the manuscript is kept. Book of kells digital collections tcd trinity college dublin. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists.
The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew. Situated just off grafton street in the heart of dublin, trinity is perfectly located to explore the city. 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. 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. Although the decoration of these pages was most extensive in the book of kells, these pages were decorated in all the other insular gospel books. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. 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 is written on vellum prepared calfskin in a bold and expert version of the script known as insular majuscule. Trinity offers iconic meeting and event space, stylish dining and over 600 bedrooms on its historical campus. These elaborately decorated initials are found not only in luxury volumes such as the book of kells, the lindisfarne gospels fig. 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. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college.