Chi rho page folio 34r book of kells chi rho page folio 34r books of kells c. Find highquality book of kells stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Dec 05, 2010 this page is one particular illuminated page from the book of kells. It is the chirho, a symbol still used in the roman catholic church, that symbolizes christs name as it is the first two letters of the word. Apr 21, 2011 the book of kells was to be their masterwork. This miniature is the largest and most lavish extant chi rho monogram in any insular gospel books and is the culmination of a tradition that started with the book of durrow. Three angels arise from one of the cross arms of the chi. An ideal place to contemplate our heavenly father, the trinity, the gospel. One such example of an isolated description can be found in a recent edition of gardners art through the ages, which discusses the chirhoiota xpi page, folio 34 recto of the book of kells c.
Book of kells contains 4 biblical accounts of christs life 4. The book of kells contains two other full page miniatures, which illustrate episodes from the passion story. The letters that look like xpi that form the primary page elements are respectively, the chi, the rho, and the iota. Columba, who brought the gospel to scotland in the 6th century. Illuminated chirho page of the book of kells about richly illuminated manuscript on parchment, dimensions. Throughout the book of kells, there are very few names that are abbreviated. Such carelessness, taken together with the sumptuousness of the book, have led to the conclusion that it was designed for ceremonial use on special liturgical occasions such as easter rather than for daily services. Dec 07, 2011 currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. Sometime between 807 and 814, in the wake of a series of devastating raids on the island sanctuary, the giant gospel of columkille.
Jul 27, 2019 chi rho iota page, the book of kells, 800. The chirho is one of the earliest forms of christian symbols, formed by superimposing the first two capital letters of chi and rho, or x and p, from the greek word for christ. View image of the most famous page is known as chi rho credit. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables it was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. One very special page is found in every gospel book. The book of kells contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation.
The most fascinating thing about the book of kells is that everything was done by hand with such precision and detail. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. Jun 01, 2017 the chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. The most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first letters of the word christ in ancient greek. The letters xpi are the greek abbreviation for the word christi or christ. Such was their value, that there was an entire set of laws, the catslechtae catsections outlining the fines attached to the stealing, injuring or killing a persons cat. The book of kells has a second chi rho abbreviation on folio 124 in the account of the crucifixion of christ, and in some manuscripts the chi rho occurs at the beginning of matthew rather than midtext at matthew 1. The page dwells almost entirely on the name of christ, or rather on its traditional abbreviation into the chirho symbol say it kairoe. Chi and rho written x p in greek are the the first two letters of. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times the book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else.
The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the. The book of kells glory of glories the most famous page is known as. As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. One such example of an isolated description can be found in a recent edition of gardners art through the ages, which discusses the chirhoiota xpi page, folio. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells chi rho two letters of the greek alphabet. The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthews account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. Plate lx from the book of kells book of kells, celtic art. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells elixir of knowledge. Tunc crucifixerant xpi, from the book of kells, fol. At the time that the book of kells was made domestic cats were a highstatus possession, owned principally by the elite.
The book of kells is inches wide and 10 inches high. In popular irish lore, cats had been created by god to restrict the mouse population on noahs ark, and in so doing protect the food required to sustain its passengers. This video is a quick introduction to the world famous book of kells and the chi rho page. The blank verso of folio 33 faces the single most lavish miniature of the early medieval period, the book of kells chi rho monogram, which serves as incipit for the narrative of the life of christ. Its fame rests not on the text the vulgate version of the gospels but from its absolutely.
It is the chi rho, a symbol still used in the roman catholic church, that symbolizes christs name as it is the first two letters of the word. It was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. The most famous of the pages in kells is the one at the top of this post. Currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year.
The book of kells is now at the library of trinity college in dublin, and although its original covers and some pages are lost, 680 pages remain. The book of lindisfarne is in the british library now. The letters themselves are the centrepiece of the folio. Sometime between 807 and 814, in the wake of a series of devastating raids on the island sanctuary, the giant gospel of columkille, chief relic of the western world, was taken to the new headquarters of the columban community at kells. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image as part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. Nov 05, 2015 together with the gospels of lindisfarne and the book of durrow, i would say that the book of kells is one of the greatest contributions to medieval art ever to come out of the british isles. Chi and rho written x p in greek are the the first two letters of the word christ in greek xpi. Dec 16, 2014 the book of kells is now at the library of trinity college in dublin, and although its original covers and some pages are lost, 680 pages remain. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the majority of the page. The book of kells glory of glories the most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first letters of the word christ. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. This is the chi rho page folio 34r from book of kells showing the initials of. This page is one particular illuminated page from the book of kells. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables.
The book of kells was probably made at the monastery of iona at the end of the eighth century. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christs name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. Its called book of columba because theres a legend that it was created singlehandedly by st. Its the beginning of the same verse in matthew as the kells chirho page. This one is from the book of lindisfarne, produced in england sometime between c. With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone.
The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. Chi and rho are two letters of the greek alphabet, the. It is called chi rho because the chi and rho are letters in the greek alphabet meaning christ. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation. The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew. Since it is very faded and worn at spots, i colored.
The chi rho page in the book of kells by suzanne lewis the book of kells was probably made at the monastery of iona at the end of the eighth century. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy, the. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells. Heres another example of a chirho page, to the right. Fine arts library image collection navigation aids. The page dwells almost entirely on the name of christ, or rather on its traditional abbreviation into the chi rho symbol say it kairoe.
The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. The book of kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. See more ideas about book of kells, chi rho and celtic. Aug 12, 2019 the book of kells also known as the book of columba is an illuminated manuscript gospel book which is in latin and contains the four gospel of the new testament along with a variety of prefatory. This page occurs in many other insular manuscripts, but they cannot compare to the intricate decoration of the book of kells. Ornamental celebration of christs initial mention in text 3. The book of kells exhibition what is the book of kells.
There is representational art, and there is nonrepresentational art, and theres also a sort of middle ground between these poles, and thats about it. Chi rho iota page from the book of kells, matthew illuminated manuscripts brought medieval art out of the dark ages a page from the book of kells a latin illuminated manuscript widely considered irelands finest national treasure 800 ad. Apr 26, 2016 view image of the most famous page is known as chi rho credit. Plate lx from the book of kells book of kells, celtic. Medieval monks spent years copying elaborate manuscripts. The book of kells also known as the book of columba is an illuminated manuscript gospel book which is in latin and contains the four gospel of. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r. Chi is written as an x while rho is roughly written as a p. The letter rho is snuggled underneath the arms of the chi. How medieval illuminated manuscripts marked the rebirth of artistic freedom artsy. The page called the chi rho page is another important page in the book of kells. In the book of kells these are perhaps visual marginalia a reflection of the everyday realities faced in the scribal environment, and the role of cats within it.
Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. This smaller, lesserknown manuscript is an exquisite piece of craftsmanship in its own right and. It gets the name book of kells from the fact that it was kept at a monastery in the town of kells for a long time in the medieval period. The book of kells is a famous 8th century insular gospel book, now in the trinity college library in dublin.
The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the. Before the book of kells, there was the book of durrow. The book of kells contains two other fullpage miniatures, which illustrate episodes from the passion story. This intricate artwork depicts the christian symbol of the chirho. Matthews account of the nativity 3 the page is illustrated with images of animals and people. These three letters are used as the abbreviated form of christs name in greek, and open that passage from matthew in latin. Kells dramatically fills up more than half the page, leaping like a giant acrobat over the small upright rho and iota below. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r medium. Book of kells at trinity college in dublin chi rho page. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think so. Book of durrow is on its way to the british library. As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chirho page from the book of kells.
The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists. This particular symbol is from the book of kells, made in an irish monastery. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells elixir of. This page has become known as the chirho monogram page. Book of kells chi rho iota, iona, scotland or early century oxgall inks and pigments on vellum book of kells trinity college yahoo search results yahoo image search results book of kells i can see at that at least 4 tain silver products have been inspired by this particular design. The page is rich in multilayered symbolism intended to engage its monastic audience with a range of eucharistic and christological themes. Even on the mostly text pages, it is more highly decorated than other gospel books and is brighter, with more reds and yellows. The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the vetus latina. There are cats, mice, butterflies, a moth, and an otter with a fish in his mouth. Here are ten things you should know about this ancient masterpiece.
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