The Book of Kells, Folio 292r.
TheBook of Kellsheld in thelibrary of Trinity College Dublinis a masterpiece of medieval illumination and manuscript craft.
The legendary volume is now available in new high-resolution scans forfree online browsing.
The Book of Kells, Folio 292r. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The Book of Kells is a 9th-century devotional text.
The text was copied onto calf vellum by trained scribes, probably on the Scottish island of Iona.
The text is rather careless with omitted words and repeated passages.
The Book of Kells. Folio 32v: Matthew; Portrait of Christ (Photo: Public Domain)
However, the surrounding illuminationor intricate illustrationsare some of the most magnificent of the period.
It is characterized by intricate patterns and colorful images.
The book found its home in the Abbey of Kells in County Meath, Ireland.
The Book of Kells. Folio 7v: Virgin and Child (Photo: Public Domain)
It rested there for centuries until Oliver CromwellEnglish revolutionary and prolific destroyer of historic itemsarrived in Ireland.
The Book of Kells was sent to Dublin for safety.
Today, it is on view in the library among other priceless works of human history.
If a trip to Dublin is not in your budget, you are in luck.
The magnificent Book of Kells has been re-digitized and is available to explore free online.
The Book of Kells.
Folio 32v: Matthew; Portrait of Christ (Photo: Public Domain)
The Book of Kells.
