Book of durrow early irish manuscripts trinity college dublin. The book of durrow is a handwritten and handillustrated gospel manuscript named after the christian monastery of durrow in central ireland. Continue reading reading books in early medieval ireland art history, book of durrow, book of mulling, book shrine, codex usserianus primus, codicology, conference, conservation, garland of howth, gospel books project, high crosses, palaeography, technical analysis. The book of durrow is among the earliest surviving decorated manuscripts in northwestern europe, dating to the late seventh century ad. The book of durrow is an early medieval gospel book from the seventh century housed in the trinity college library. The book of durrow is among the earliest surviving decorated manuscripts in. Here manuscript keeper meehan examines the masterpiece, using forty color reproductions to aid in the interpretation of the books pictures and meaning. The book of durrow the library of trinity college dublin. A masterpiece of celtic art, it is believed to be the oldest fully decorated insular gospel that survives, predating the book of kells by more than a century. The book of durrow to play key role in british library exhibition.
Here it was kept from the eleventh century if not before until the seventeenth century, when, after the dissolution of the monastery as we know from an entry in the martyrology of donegal and from. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular script style. Ancient origins articles related to book of durrow in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. Predated only by the cathach of st columba, the book of durrow is a gospel manuscript named after the monastery of durrow, a foundation of saint columba near tullamore in central ireland. A superb set in the original stiff paper wrappers and housed in a recent cloth bound slipcase, titled in gilt on red. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving fully decorated. The place of creation may perhaps have been durrow abbey in ireland or a monastery in northumbria in northeastern england where the monastery at lindisfarne would be the likely candidate or perhaps iona abbey in western scotlandthe place of origin. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving decorated gospel books. Figure 1 the book of mulling, 2nd half of 8th century, tcd ms 60, f.