Learning Outcomes: On completion of the

topic ‘’Irish Illuminated Manuscripts 6th-9th C’

students should be able to:

Identify an Illuminated Manuscript

List the materials and methods used

Distinguish different decorative styles and

techniques of Illuminated Manuscripts

Date: 20 10 2011 : All printed pages may be downloaded

Celtic Manuscripts

workbook

Book of Durrow

Book of Kells

Understand the Christian context that produced

these works

Recognise the shared motifs used in Metallurgy /

Stonework / Illuminated manuscripts

Construct a simple Celtic design

This booklet could be used:

Concurrently with the topics

As homework exercises

As a revision resource

CATHACH 6th C. ‘By permission of Royal Irish Academy’ c.

Cathach

Page 2

ORDINARY LEVEL

Examination papers from 2005—2011

3. ‘The Temptation of Christ’ from the Book of Kells is illustrated on the accompany-

ing sheet.

Answer (a), (b) and (c).

(a) Sketch and describe two types of decoration found on this page.

(b) Write a short note on the materials used to make The Book of Kells.

(c) Name and give a short description of one other Irish manuscript that you have stud-

ied. 2005

Use sketches to illustrate your answer. 2005

2. The Chi-Rho page from the Book of Kells is illustrated on the accompanying sheet.

Answer (a), (b) and ©

) Sketch and describe two different types of decoration found on this page.

(b) Describe the materials and techniques used to produce the Book of Kells.

(c) Name and give a brief description of one other page from the Book of Kells.

Use sketches to illustrate your answer. 2007

3. The Virgin and Child page from the Book of Kells is illustrated on the accompany-

ing sheet.

Answer (a), (b) and (c).

(a) Describe and discuss the figures on this page.

(b) Describe and discuss the abstract decoration on this page.

(c) Give some general information about the Book of Kells.

Use sketches to illustrate your answer.2011

Copyright approvals:

These images are for single use only and may not be downloaded or

photocopied without prior permission from appropriate sources

Royal Irish Academy The Cathach www.ria.ie

Trinity College Archives DigitalResources@tcd.ie

Front cover Book of Durrow, Book of Kells

ancient-celts.com citrinitas.com art-imagery.com

Puzzle All Star Puzzles chad@thewhipkey.com

EXPANDING THE TOPIC outside the classroom

Visit shops and record products that use Celtic motifs, jewellery,

tourist shops, spot products that use a Celtic font .

Write students’ names in Celtic Uncial font and decorate them

using Celtic motifs and hang as a wall border around the classroom

Use Celtic Calligraphy in the ‘Craft’ exam

Visit the exhibition in TCD ‘ Turning Darkness into Light’

http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/

worksheets can be downloaded to suit all secondary levels

You tube ‘ The Secret of Kells’ (2-3 MINUTES)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NqV6501YMw&list=FLJi4cXQCVQDKEQTWsf2ilwg&index=11

This is a short extract beautifully illustrated and could be used as an introduction to the topic.

Page 18

Trace the use of colour from the Cathach 6th C.

Book of Durrow 7th C and Book of Kells 8th C.

CATHACH 6C.

BOOK OF DURROW 7C.

BOOK OF KELLS 8C.

Page 3

2. The decoration of the Book of Durrow displays evidence that it was influenced by the

patterns and motifs found on stone and metal from the pre-Christian period.

Discuss this statement with reference to the illustration on the accompanying sheet,

and

describe and discuss one other page from any manuscript of your choice.

Illustrate your answer. Higher 2006

Ordinary: Metalwork/Neolithic

Higher Level Exam

3. The pages illustrated on the accompanying sheet are from two Irish illuminated

manuscripts. St. MATHEW [Durrow] CHI Rho Book of Kells

Name the manuscripts and describe and compare both pages referring to layout, im-

agery, design, colour and symbolism.

and

Discuss briefly the function of these manuscripts and the conditions that enabled their

production.

Illustrate your answer. 2008

Ordinary: Pre Christian metalwork/stone crosses

No illumination Q. in 2009

3. Discuss the stylised treatment of the human figure in Irish Manuscripts such as the

Book of Durrow or the Book of Kells. Refer in your answer to one named page from

either book.

and

Discuss briefly how such manuscripts were made and explain what their original func-

tion was.

. Discuss the stylistic developments in early Christian manuscripts from the Cathach to

the Book of Kells. In your answer make reference to the layout, the use of colour and the

approaches to decoration. 2011

and

Name and describe briefly one page from any manuscript of your choice.

Illustrate your answer.

Page 4

Terms used in exam

questions 2005-2011

Stylized

Sketch

Describe

Decoration

Materials

Techniques

Manuscript

Figure

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Write or draw your

understanding of

these terms here

Select one design technique ie. Spirals, Embossing,Knotwork

and trace its development from metalwork into Illuminated

Manuscripts.

Page 17

Annotate every detail

Page 16

M Monks, manuscript

A Animal designs ( Zoomorphic)

N New Testament (B o K)

U

S

C

R

I

P Psalms (Cathach)

T

Alphabet game

At the end of the topic invite students to connect words . eg

Page 5

Pattern

Motif

Imagery

Design

Colour

Symbolism

Imagery

Function

Discuss

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Write or draw your un-

derstanding of these

terms here

Page 6

Identify the manuscript from which

this is written

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List 3 decorative styles, refer to

the use of colour also.

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Explain the term

‘diminuendo’

Illustrate with an example

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What is ink gall ink?

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Imagine you have only soot

available to make ink… mix up

a little paste and write your

initial using similar decorative

techniques as seen above

Sketch images from the Illuminated

Manuscripts where shared design motifs have

been used in Metalwork and Stonework of 7th,

8th Century

Page 15

Knot work in Metalwork

Millefiori in Metalwork

Interlacing in Stonework

Page 14

Define and illustrate the following terms:

Step patterns triskeles

millefiori

knot work spirals

symmetry

cloisonne filigree

Page 7

What is the difference between a manuscript and a book?

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What is written in the Book Of Durrow?

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When was it written?

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Who wrote it?

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How was it written?

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List the materials used

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Draw a stylised animal as seen in the Book of Durrow here.

Page 8

Trace and colour a detail from a ‘CARPET PAGE’ from

the Book of Durrow.Describe the colours, and annotate

your image

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———————————— —————————————————What was the function of

this page?————————————————————

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Select a section from the

Book Of Durrow that

contains

Strap work

Spirals

Animal decoration

[zoomorphic]

Annotate your selection

Arrest of Christ

Page 13

Page 12

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE; Match the keywords with the appropriate column

Page 9

Portrait of Christ, Decoration, Pigment, Colour Styl-

ised, Knotwork, Triskeles, Spirals,Capital letter, Ma-

juscule or Uncial, Calligraphy, Vellum, Ink, Quill, Psalms, Zoomorphic, Figurative, Symbol, Religious,

Bible, Carpet Page, Evangelist, New Testament,

Scribe, Orpiment ,Red lead ,Latin, Gospels

Materials used Methods, Designs Content

Page 10

How to construct simple ‘Step’ Pattern

As Seen in the Book of Durrow

Using a six square grid from graph paper, construct a step pattern to make a border for a greeting card. Use 4 colours to high-

light your pattern

Business Name

Page 11

Write one Latin word from the book of Kells

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Look at the 3 representations of the letter N, from The

Cathach 6C. Book of Durrow 7C. Book of Kells 8C.

Describe how each was decorated, annotate each image