The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin

by Bernard Meehan

Overview

"Beautiful … by far the best modern short account of one of the great monuments of early Irish civilization … required reading for anyone interested in the subject."—The Irish Times

The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of medieval art—a brilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-page depictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative painting. The strange imagination displayed in the pages, the impeccable technique and the very fine state of preservation make The Book of Kells an object of endless fascination.

This edition reproduces the most important of the fully decorated pages plus a series of enlargements showing the almost unbelievable minuteness of the detail; spiral and interlaced patterns, human and animal ornament—a combination of high seriousness and humor. The text is by Bernard Meehan, the Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College, Dublin.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780500277904
Publisher:	Thames & Hudson
Publication date:	02/17/1995
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Bernard Meehan was head of research collections and keeper of manuscripts at Trinity College, Dublin, where the Book of Kells is on permanent exhibition.

Editorial Reviews

This is essentially a scholarly introduction to the Book of Kells, the ancient illuminated manuscript of the gospels housed at Trinity College in Dublin. The text is laced with 117 mostly color photographs of the book's beautifully illustrated pages. For religious and art collections.

Library Journal