The Book of Kells

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 16, 23 April 1908, Page 30

The Book of Kells

Back in the early centuries (says an American exchange; Ireland was so famous for the learning and piety of its ecclesiastics that it was called the- Island of Saiiuts. Among thie arts which were sedulously cultivated by these Irish ecclesiastics, that oi - illuminating vehum reached a very hi^h stage of perfection and rc-s-lted ia • l.ttie mi'.racVas of dexterity - which are' stall the admiration and wonder of book lovers the world over. Perhaps the choicest specimen of this kind of craft is the ' Boo 1 * of Kells,' aow in the custody of Trinity College, Dublin, a priceless relic of illuminated vefium. This wonderful too , with other specim-cns of Celtic art, is -described in a magnificent volume -which has just been pre3ent«d to the" Metropo'itan Museum library in New York by Mr. Jolin-D. Cramm'dns. This volume contains superb reproductions in "color of , the most noted early Irish manuscripts, a 'work that "was executed in a limited edition by command" of the late Queen Victoria. -■ - The most perfect specimen of the' handiwork of the Irish monks extant, however, is contained iii the ' Book of Kells.' Tt is unquestionably the most superb memorial which has come down to us' from those time's when lrelabd, rowler the name of Scoth, held up the torch of learning to all Eurore. If evidence were needed of the important part played by Ireland in fostering and keeping alive the elements of civilisation which have since vitali7ed the modern world, they could be found in these quaint relics which are a store-house of eru-

dition. -St. Columbia and other Irish missionaries, who uxunded a monastery, in Meath, that of Cennaanns, or •Kells, pro-baibly practised the .art of illuminating, and) the •' -Book of KeJs' has often, been aspribed to the hand of the saint himself. Modern research has teniJedj however, to throw discredit upon.thds theory and: ..the origin of the famous manuscript is shrouded in obscuixty. The book itself is composed of 339 - leaves, measuring 13£ by H inches." The first, part contains the explanations of Hebrew . names, which is followed by the Eusebian tables. T'hten come summaries and the argument of the gospels, following marinly the version- of the Vulgate, though there are 'several peculiar readings.. There is an average of seventeen or nineteen lines to the page an tine portion containing the gospels. The in s .use! throughout are black," red, purple, antt yellow.. It is notable that "gold ds absent in the 'Book of Ke'ls.' It >as not introduced into the Celtic art of' illuminating un<til a decidedly, later date. The text is more copiously and more ornately illits-, •.rated than any other known copy of tha gospels. One" of the marvels of the work is the nice precision which characterises it throughout ' Although ihe designs are , intricate to the" point of feeing microscopic, not even with .the aid- of a lens is it possibte to discover any -flays or rn-terlacin^s. Wherever space was afforded there are worked in conventional, grotesque and natural foliage ornaments. Figures of men, of animals, birds { horses and dogs are woven and interwoven in an elaborate and pattern, which has constituted t v e marvel"' and the despair of modern masters of the delicate and beautiful craft of bookmaking.