Durrow abbey is a historic site in durrow, county offaly in ireland. The book of durrow is an early medieval gospel book decorated with carpet pages and framed symbols of the evangelists. The book of durrow, which predates the book of kells by around 100 years, is to be loaned by trinity college to the british library for an anglosaxon exhibition. Fullsize color reproduction of the entire original document, book of durrow. Richard best, celticist at the national library of ireland wrote, lastly, it is to be hoped that this precious volumeof so great importance to palaeographers sic, may before long be published in facsimile. It was long considered the earliest surviving fully decorated insular gospel book, and thought to date from the midseventh century, yet it was executed with such a degree of sophistication that. The book of durrow is a large gospel book that includes large decorated initials, five fullpage illuminations of the evangelists, and six carpet. Media in category book of durrow the following 22 files are in this category, out of 22 total. For editions of individual texts, see their separate entries. Probably made at iona, scotland, or in northern england. Tradition has maintained that columba wrote the ms. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular art style. This smaller, lesserknown manuscript is an exquisite piece of craftsmanship in its own right and.
In 1926, after having the rare pleasure of examining the book of dimma, dr. Aug 14, 2012 facsimile of folio 192v of book of durrow, kathryn finter. Leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library, ms a. 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 has. The book of durrow has always been fascinating to me, probably because it was the first medieval manuscript i studied in college. Durrow, book of in trinity college, dublin, a richly decorated vellum codex of the four gospels, with vulgate text and old latin prefaces, written and decorated in the province of the columban mission in northumbria or ireland, c. The text consists of several prefatory pages and the vulgate version of the gospels but presented in the prevulgate order of matthew, john, luke. Facsimile of folio 192v of book of durrow, kathryn finter. This is the fourth and final early medieval gospel book to be digitized on this project. Trinity college dublin has announced that one of irelands most important and ancient manuscripts, the book of durrow, is to go on loan to the british library for a landmark international. The book of durrow is among the earliest surviving decorated manuscripts in northwestern europe, dating to the late seventh century ad. I describe three crosscarpet pages in the latter manuscript in.
The book of durrow is an early medieval gospel book from the seventh century housed in the trinity college library. The book of durrow dublin, trinity college library, ms 57 is a 7th century illuminated gospel book. Take a quick interactive quiz on the concepts in the book of durrow. Durrow, during columbas life and for centuries after his death, was a famous school, at one time being esteemed second to none in the country. Historians believe that it originated elsewhere and was brought to the abbey.
It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular script style. Examining the book of durrow, the book of kells predecessor. Patrick, like all effective missionaries, used the native beliefs of the irish to guide them to the gospel.
The book of durrow, which derives its name from the irish columban monastery of durrow, county offaly, is an early medieval gospel book decorated with carpet pages and framed symbols of the evangelists. The book of durrow, probably created in the late 7th century, has already had two monographs devoted to it, luces facsimile edition of 1960 and bernard meehans volume of 1996, so this guide is a timely addition to bring the. Gospels early 8th century, the book of durrow 7th century, and the book of kells c. In the case of the book of durrow the period may have been even longer.
Book of durrow and the book of dimna irish pictures 1888. Digital resources and imaging services, trinity college library dublin, online. 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 contains the four gospels, each of which is preceded by carpet pages and the evangelist symbols. The book of durrow day seventeen of medieval manuscripts. Largely undisturbed, the site is an early medieval monastic complex of ecclesiastical and secular monuments, visible and subsurface the extant monuments at the site include a large ecclesiastical enclosure, five early christian grave slabs, a fine midninth century high. The book of durrow is a medieval illuminated manuscript gospel book in the insular script style created by irish monks. 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 is stylistically related to the book of kells and the lindisfarne gospels, both of which ive previously discussed, but the book of durrow predates the other two. An leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library, ms a. The manuscripts sources and inspiration stretch from ireland to anglosaxon england. Primus is special because it is one of the earliest examples of a gospel book.
Primary sources this section typically includes references to diplomatic editions, facsimiles and photographic reproductions, notably digital image archives, of at least a major portion of the manuscript. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists. The first, the book of durrow, is a copy of the gospels according to the vulgate version. The book of durrow trinity college dublin ms 57 contains a latin copy of the four gospels, in a version close to the vulgate text completed by. The book of durrow, or the codex usserianus i trinity collage ms a. The book of durrow the library of trinity college dublin. The manuscript contains a copy of the four gospels of the new testament, together with some prefaces. It gets its name from a monastery founded about 523 a. It was probably created between 650 and 700, in either durrow or northumbria in northern england, where lindisfarne or durham would be the likely candidates, or on the island of iona in the scottish inner hebrides. The content of the prefaces is so close in nature to those in the book of kells, it is thought that this part of the book of durrow may have served as a model or exemplar for the kells scribes. Adomnan animals antrim cross ardagh chalice argumentum of st artist blank book of durrow book of kells breues causae british museum calf canon tables carpet page carpet pages causae of st christ colophon. It is located off the n52 some 5 miles from tullamore. The opening words of each gospel are written in colours and adorned with geometric decorations.
Here manuscript keeper meehan examines the masterpiece, using forty color reproductions to aid in the interpretation of the book s pictures and meaning. The durrow manuscript was lost in the sixteenth century, at the time of the dissolution of durrow abbey, but recovered some 100 years later. The book of durrow dublin, trinity college library, ms a. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving decorated gospel books in western europe, will go on loan to the british library for a landmark international exhibition of early medieval manuscripts and other objects, which opens next month. The book of durrow to play key role in british library. Columba as the scribe and creator of the book of durrow, but investigation in the 1980s revealed that the name of the scribe had been erased and st.
It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. Comments on the vellum, the makeup and other aspects, scriptorium 10 1956, 3 21, esp. 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. Dated primarily on palaeographic and artistic grounds to between ad650 and 700, it is almost certainly the work of a single scribe who belonged to one of the churches of the columban affiliation. Other important examples of monastic irish art include the codex usserianus primus 600610, the cathach of st columba 610620, the book of dimma c. The book of durrow, one of the earliest surviving fully. Pigskin and quarter pigskin, title in green along spine. The text of the gospels is largely drawn from the vulgate, although it also. England facsimiles of medieval manuscripts and incunabula.
On the other side of the question professor luce writes, in his preface to the facsimile edition, the. The book of durrow was written about a hundred and fifty years before the betterknown book of kells. This manuscript, which now rests in the library of trinity college in dublin, resided at durrow abbey until 916. 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 scotland. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. The former is something of a cinderella, having to hide in the shadow of its more famous brother gospel book. The book of durrow also contains pages with elaborate illuminated initials, such as the chiro page. Digitisation early irish manuscripts trinity college dublin. Symbol of the evangelist matthew, the gospel book of durrow. The venerable bede styles it monasterium nobile in hiberniae, and, at a later period, armagh and itself were called the universities of. The book of durrow and the question of programme anglo. The book of durrow codex durmachensis tcd ms 57 the book of durrow is one of the oldest irish manuscripts, written around the year 650 ad at the school of durrow near the town of tullamore. Durrow lies in the center of ireland and was one of a number of monasteries where teams of scribes wrote and illustrated manuscripts.
The book of durrow is the sole representative of a crucial phase in the development of hibernosaxon art and the first. Book of durrow quick reference trinity college dublin, ms 57, dating from the late 7 th century, is the earliest surviving systematically illustrated insular gospel book. Housed in the library of trinity college dublin, it is regarded as second only to the book of kells. 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 shapes of the book of durrow evangelistsymbol pages jstor. The complete facsimile edition is evangeliorum quattuor. The book of durrow, 7th c the book of durrow, or the codex usserianus i is perhaps the oldest surviving insular gospel, was written around 650675 either at the durrow abbey, county offaly, ireland, or in northumbria, england. Art history, book of dimma, book of durrow, book of kells, book of mulling, devotional practices, reading. Book of durrow is on its way to the british library. Here manuscript keeper meehan examines the masterpiece, using forty color reproductions to aid in the interpretation of the books pictures and meaning. Commentary by luce, arthur a simms, george o meyer, peter.
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