Dark Ages. Medieval art. Illuminated
Manuscripts..
Illuminated Manuscripts
The Lindisfarne Gospels
Dating to the 7th century, the Lindisfarne Gospels were
painted in a monastery on a lonely island outpost of the same
name, located off the northeast coast of England. Twisted
abstract shapes that took like crazy letters, are actually human
and animal forms and letters inter-twined. The image above is
taken from the first page from the Gospel of Matthew. It is
beautifully embellished with tracery, rhombuses, crosses, with
imagery of human heads, animals, plants in a lively display of
colors.
The Book Of Kells
This 8 th century book is 41cmx 30cm in size and is made up of
thousands of intricately ornate lines drawn on vellum with a pen
nib as thin as a human hair. The forms are made up of circles and
shapes of every kind, with drawings of dozens of tiny abstract
animal figures cramped into an intricate mesh. Most full page
illumination forms large initials that begin the first word of
one of the holy Gospels.
Book of
Kells - Illumination of the Chi Rho Page Poster
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The Carolingan Illuminated Manuscripts
At around 783 Ad, the Court School of Charlemange in Aarchen
became active in creating manuscripts, establishing
'scriptoriums'. Texts of the Gospels were embellished
with portraits of the four evangelists. Each book of the Gospels
included four ornamented text columns, concluding with a likeness
of the Evangelist writer of that Gospel. The political role of
these texts was significant during the rule Charlemangne.
Early Carolingan manuscripts, includ the Godescalc Evangelistary
(781–783); the Lorsch Gospels (778–820); the Ada
Gospels; the Soissons Gospels; and the Coronation Gospels.
Around the middle of the 9th century, Archbishop Ebo of Rheims
had artists create the Gospel Book of Ebo. The painting style is
different in its swift strokes wich gave a fresh look to the art.
Other books created include the Utrecht Psalter, which is the
most important body of work. In later works the illustrations of
the manuscripts expanded to include themes from the entire Bible.
Notable piece of work is the Grandaval Bible, created at the
Monastery of Tours.
Other Illuminated Manuscripts of 900-1050
The period 970-1020, under the Holy Roman Emperors Otto I, II
and III, scribes in Monasteries in Trier, Reichenbach, Cologne,
Regensburg produced pictures of guided scenes symbolizing Divine
power through the glow of gold.
Pentecost, from the Winchester Pontifical, 10th-11th Century Giclee Print
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Impressive Manuscripts were produced in Winchester England at the same period. Notably the Benedictional of St. AEthelwold.
Illuminations from Northern Spain were influenced by Islamic Art and features apocalyptic images which are exotically multicolored.