Book of Durrow
Irish Illuminated Gospel Manuscript, Now in Trinity College Dublin.
Visual Arts Guide

Book of Durrow

The outstanding early Irish illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Durrow was begun at Durrow Abbey, in County Offaly, around 650 CE. Not only is it a superb example of early Christian art, it is the earliest surviving fully decorated Gospel manuscript of the Hiberno-Saxon Insular Art tradition. It exemplifies the beginning of the monastic concept of illustrating the sacred text as if with precious jewels and textiles.

One of the most outstanding early manuscripts in the history of Irish art, it measures about 10 inches by 9 inches, is written in Insular Script on vellum (calfskin) and consists of abut 250 pages (folios).

The illuminated text includes the four Gospels of the New Testament, as well as six surviving carpet pages (devoted exclusively to decoration) similar in design to contemporary metalwork patterns, and (for the first time in any Irish illuminated text) a series of highly illustrated evangelist pages. Unusually, the Durrow scribes assigned different symbols to each prefatory page of the gospels: a man for Matthew, but an eagle for Mark (instead of the traditional lion), a calf for Luke, but a lion for John (instead of the traditional eagle). The four symbols are displayed together on one page, and united by a cross, implying the harmony of the Gospels. Each evangelist symbol is followed by a carpet page. Illustrations in the manuscript include: Celtic interlace patternwork, spirals, zoomorphic triskeles, knots and ribbon plaits.

The monks who endowed the Book of Durrow with their calligraphic and decorative artistry can be regarded as being among the earliest Irish artists of the medieval period.

The manuscript was lost in the sixteenth century, at the time of the dissolution of Durrow Abbey, but recovered some 100 years later. It is now kept at Trinity College, Dublin. Latterly, an excerpt from the Book of Durrow has appeared on a government five pound note.

Other important examples of monastic Irish art include the illuminated manuscripts: the Cathach of Colmcille (c.560), the Book of Dimma (c.625), and the Durham Gospels (c.650), and the celebrated Book of Kells - also called the Book of Columba - written about 800.

• For more about the history of Irish culture, see: Visual Arts in Ireland.
• For information about the cultural history of Ireland, see: Irish Art and Culture.

• How to Update This Mini Review of Book of Durrow.

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