Were the monks on drugs? How The Book of Kells went fully psychedelic
"The Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – is unusual not just for its beauty, but for its near-intact survival, despite being created in the ninth century. Generally agreed by scholars to have been painted anonymously by three monks – known as Hands A, B and C – in the Irish monastic community of Iona in today’s Inner Hebridean Isles, it was removed from there to Kells on the Irish mainland to guard it from the Vikings. Much later, in the 17th century, it was moved to Dublin to protect it from Oliver Cromwell’s army, and in 1661 given to Trinity College Library."
"...one of the most ecstatic and psychedelic artworks ever created, an enchanted book that leads you on curling, coiling journeys of endless reverie in which a single letter in a word can become an object of obsession."
Irrespctive of one's religious perspective, The Book of Kells is a stunningly extraordinary work of art, as the article says. I first discovered it when I was learning calligraphy 40-odd years ago. The interactive exhibit referred to in the article can only be appreciated in person, of course, but the Book is available for free viewing online as well.
Mind you, even seeing the Trinity Library, Dublin alone would almost be a religious experience!
"The Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – is unusual not just for its beauty, but for its near-intact survival, despite being created in the ninth century. Generally agreed by scholars to have been painted anonymously by three monks – known as Hands A, B and C – in the Irish monastic community of Iona in today’s Inner Hebridean Isles, it was removed from there to Kells on the Irish mainland to guard it from the Vikings. Much later, in the 17th century, it was moved to Dublin to protect it from Oliver Cromwell’s army, and in 1661 given to Trinity College Library."
"...one of the most ecstatic and psychedelic artworks ever created, an enchanted book that leads you on curling, coiling journeys of endless reverie in which a single letter in a word can become an object of obsession."
Irrespctive of one's religious perspective, The Book of Kells is a stunningly extraordinary work of art, as the article says. I first discovered it when I was learning calligraphy 40-odd years ago. The interactive exhibit referred to in the article can only be appreciated in person, of course, but the Book is available for free viewing online as well.
Mind you, even seeing the Trinity Library, Dublin alone would almost be a religious experience!
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