Insular Art
Insular Art is the term used to describe the artistic works created in Ireland, Northumbria and Scotland (Picts) from the period 600 AD- 900/ 1200 AD (De Hamel, 1994).
Function of decorative art
The artwork in the BOK fufils several functions, apart from a decorative one. It aids in the reading of the text, in that it punctuates the text. It is also liturgical, and evangical in purpose i.e. as a missionary object (Meehan, 1994).
Insular Art : decorative features
There are several decorative features present in the Book of Kells (BOK) that exemplify Insular Art. It has been noted that the techniques used in the BOK are not unique to it, but what makes the BOK special is the fact that so many of the techniques were used at once, in the same manuscript (Fuchs and Oltroggee, 1994). The following section provides a brief overview of some of the main features found in the BOK.
Drop caps/Historiated letters
Large, decorative letters were commonly used in the BOK to mark the beginning of a new section or important entry. The use of such decoration resulted in the text being shifted in some way. In the BOK, large decorative letters are found on the left hand side of the page, with several being found in the margins or in the middle of the text, to a lesser extend (Jones, 2011).
"Turn in the path"
This technique works to alert the reader to the fact that text has been entered into a blank space on the preceeding line. In the BOK, animal illustrations are used to this end; they serve to highlight specific passages (Jones, 2011).
Interlaced and spiral patterns
These two designs are perhaps the most recognised of the Celtic, insular art techniques. They are very common in the BOK and are usually found within larger shapes.
Dots pattern
In the BOK, this single- line pattern is mostly red in colour and is used to outline letters or illustrations.
Diminuendo
'Diminuendo' is where the letters of words introducing a new section are formed in decreasing size (Meehan, 1994).
Plant forms of illumination
This is a common illustration in the BOK, taking the form of leaves, stems or vines. Flowers are also featured. These illustrations are commonly interwoven with the zoomorphic illustrations (Sullivan, 1988).
Zoomorphic forms of illumination
There are many animals depicted in the BOK : peacocks, horses, dogs, cats, rodents, hares, fish, serpents and dragons. Also included in this classification of decorative features are the symbols of the evangelists (Sullivan, 1988). They are commonly used to fill large letters.
Figures
There are many figures featured in the BOK, outside of the depictions of Christ and the Evangelists; soldiers, men and some women are also featured. According to Sullivan (1988) these figures have been oft described as 'grotesque' and 'hideous' and it has been questioned as to whether the illuminators of the BOK were even capable of drawing human figures!
Drop caps/Historiated letters
Large, decorative letters were commonly used in the BOK to mark the beginning of a new section or important entry. The use of such decoration resulted in the text being shifted in some way. In the BOK, large decorative letters are found on the left hand side of the page, with several being found in the margins or in the middle of the text, to a lesser extend (Jones, 2011).
"Turn in the path"
This technique works to alert the reader to the fact that text has been entered into a blank space on the preceeding line. In the BOK, animal illustrations are used to this end; they serve to highlight specific passages (Jones, 2011).
Interlaced and spiral patterns
These two designs are perhaps the most recognised of the Celtic, insular art techniques. They are very common in the BOK and are usually found within larger shapes.
Dots pattern
In the BOK, this single- line pattern is mostly red in colour and is used to outline letters or illustrations.
Diminuendo
'Diminuendo' is where the letters of words introducing a new section are formed in decreasing size (Meehan, 1994).
Plant forms of illumination
This is a common illustration in the BOK, taking the form of leaves, stems or vines. Flowers are also featured. These illustrations are commonly interwoven with the zoomorphic illustrations (Sullivan, 1988).
Zoomorphic forms of illumination
There are many animals depicted in the BOK : peacocks, horses, dogs, cats, rodents, hares, fish, serpents and dragons. Also included in this classification of decorative features are the symbols of the evangelists (Sullivan, 1988). They are commonly used to fill large letters.
Figures
There are many figures featured in the BOK, outside of the depictions of Christ and the Evangelists; soldiers, men and some women are also featured. According to Sullivan (1988) these figures have been oft described as 'grotesque' and 'hideous' and it has been questioned as to whether the illuminators of the BOK were even capable of drawing human figures!