It consists of the latin text of the gospels, illuminated in the very ornate hibernosaxon style hiberno refers to the irish, or hibernians. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. His 2012 book contained more than 80 pages from the manuscript reproduced fullsize and in full colour. Buy the book of kells by bernard meehan from waterstones today. Bernard meehan the book of kells is one of the great treasures of medieval europe. Bernard meehan was head of research collections and keeper of manuscripts at trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent exhibition. The book of kells 0500238944 by bernard meehan book detail. This completely new official guide reproduces the most important of the fully decorated pages from the book of kells, as. It is a short overview, an introduction to the book of kells.
This new edition comes with a lucid explanation of the books history and its iconography by bernard meehan, who is the keeper of manuscripts at. A new book by the keeper of manuscripts at trinity college library that represents the. A rare copy of the book of kells can also be seen for free at the little museum of dublin. When i took on a project involving a page from the book of kells, the bernard meehan book kept coming up. The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. The book of kells by bernard meehan 1995, paperback. Bernard meehans research focuses on insular manuscripts, history and culture 6th9th centuries. The book of kells by bernard meehan used very good. I thought that everybody was familiar with the book of kells, but i see thats not true, so let me explain what the book of kells is and why its so special. This new official guide, by the former keeper of manuscripts at trinity college library, dublin, provides fascinating insights into the book of kells, revealing the astounding detail and richness of one of the greatest works of medieval art. Newlyphotographed images from the book of kells are produced with unprecedented clarity and depth. I got a lot of confused questions yesterday while unboxing my deluxe the book of kells by bernard meehan. Bernard meehan books list of books by author bernard meehan. The finding was made by dr bernard meehan of trinity college, dublin, where the manuscript has been housed since 1661 ad.
This 9th century illuminated gospel is the finest example of irish monastic artistry. Created in the years around 800, it survived viking raids and the theft of its jeweled covers. Author, bernard meehan, the current keeper of manuscripts at trinity college states that the sacred text itself was copied in the book of kells with a remarkable degree of inaccuracy. This is a fine introduction to a singular artistic masterpiece, and the superb photographs provide ample grounds for falling in love with it. The book of kells commented by bernard meehan thursday. Meath, ireland, the book was brought there after the monastic community on iona fled raids in the early ninth century. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition 9780500277904 by meehan, bernard and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. After fighting in the cromwellian period, the church at kells lay in ruins, and in 1653 the book was sent to dublin by the governor of kells for safekeeping. He served on the governmentappointed national archives advisory council from 1987 to 1997. The book of kells by bernard meehan, hardcover barnes. World famous book of kells was created in two halves. An esteemed treasure, the book of kells is a revered symbol of irish culture. A digital copy of the manuscript was produced by trinity college in 2006.
An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college dublin by bernard meehan the book of kells is a masterpiece of medieval art a brilliantly decorated version of the four gospels with fullpage depictions of christ, the virgin and the evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative painting. Produced around 800, it presents a text of the gospels employing decoration that is not only extraordinarily rich and colourful but. The book of kells the book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. The book of kells holds a special place in the history of western art as a crowning achievement of the insular manuscript tradition. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin. This official guide by the former keeper of manuscripts at the library of trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art.
An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition 8600299600. 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. The cathach, the book of durrow, the book of kells dr bernard meehan, trinity college library, dublin m uch is known about ireland in the early christian period. It is a masterpiece of medieval art that beautifully depicts the four gospels in fullpage of illustrations of christ, the virgin, the child, and evangelists. Extraordinarily inventive and intricate imagery accompanies the texts of the four gospels. A scholarly update of a book illustrated by monks reveals why it meant so much to james. The book of kells official guide, bernard meehan if you, like so many others, are fascinated by the book of kells, irelands national treasure, then this is the book for you. From pigments used, the number of calves slaughtered to make the vellum, to brief discussions on the different patterns and. The book of kells, dating from about 800, is a brilliantly decorated manuscript of the four gospels.
In 1994, bernard meehan, keeper of manuscripts at trinity college dublin, produced an introductory booklet on the book of kells, with 110 colour images of the manuscript. Bernard meehan assimilates the preceding literature on the book of kells and applies the results of intervening studies to some earlier hypotheses. Bernard meehan, former keeper of manuscripts at trinity college dublin has written an authoritative analysis of the book of kells, its artists, texts and script. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition bernard meehan was head of research collections and keeper of manuscripts at trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent exhibition. As all marginalia is, those little marks that people make in borderlands of a book, in the margins and on the title page, underlined text and notes scribbled wherever there is a blank space requiring commentary, exegesis, digression, or. One copy is held by the anglican church in kells, on the site of the original monastery. A new book by the keeper of manuscripts at trinity college library that represents the glories of the book of kells for todays readers, revealing the astounding. An exhibition under the patronage of mary mcaleese, president of ireland and sir william deane ac kbe, governorgeneral of australia. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on. Bernard meehan is keeper of manuscripts at trinity college library, dublin, owners of the book of kells and the book of durrow, two outstanding survivals from the early scottishirish christian world. The text is by bernard meehan, the keeper of manuscripts at trinity college, dublin. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition by bernard meehan. Bernard meehan delves into the rich ornamentation and explores dense symbolism of the book of kells in a selection of pages from the manuscript.
The book of kells by bernard meehan penguin random house. The illustrations in the guide include reproductions. Spread the word, book of kells goes global despite. The book of kells by bernard meehan 2012, hardcover for. New book on the book of kells by tcd keeper of manuscripts dr bernard meehan launched 20th november 2012 the book of kells is widely recognised as one of the worlds most beautiful decorated manuscripts and a masterpiece of european medieval art, with images that are staggering in their richness, intricacy and inventiveness.
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