The Book of Kells

One of the most remarkable manuscripts to survive from the early Middle Ages in

Europe, the Book of Kells was probably painted around 800 in a monastery at Iona in

Scotland or Kells in Ireland, or perhaps in both places. Extraordinarily inventive and

intricate imagery accompanies the texts of the four Gospels: full-page depictions of

Evangelists and their symbols, lavish honorific openings to the Gospels, extraordinary

initials, and decoration that combines complex interlace, animals, and human figures.

This newly photographed book explores the Book of Kells through its historical

background; a display of the elements of the book at their actual size; the spectacular

openings of the texts that precede the Gospels; a study of earlier and comparable

manuscripts; detailed examination of symbols and themes, with special enlarged

details; a look at the scribes and artists who worked on the manuscript; and a

consideration of technical aspects, illuminated by recent scientific research.

The rich illustrations feature more than fifty full-size reproductions of complete

pages of the manuscript plus enlarged details that allow one to relish the intricacy

of elements barely visible to the naked eye. Supplementary images place the

manuscript in its setting and provide comparisons for its iconography and style.