Analysis of monogram page chi rho one of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. Rho page, may hold the most remarkable visual impact of the entire book of kells. The book of kells is so precious, in the 1980s a swiss publisher developed a way to copy the book so well to make it suspended in air and the pages were turned by air, never touched. But despite its renown, not much is known about its origins. The chi rho monogram page marks the opening of matthew.
Chi rho cross and its meaning the chi rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, formed by superimposing the first two letters chi and rho of the greek word. Remember that the text of the manuscript is written on parchment or animal skin. I consider the lindisfarne gospels and the book of kells to be pinnacle examples of the illustrators art, and i have been trying for at least half my life to create something similar. There is no better example from the book of kells that portrays these words of art historians better than the chi rho monogram page. Ancient celtic illuminated book of the 4 gospels, written in latin for those who like to enjoy a more cultural or literary break, a trip to the trinity college library where the famous book of kells is housed, is a must. The book of kells also known as the book of columba is one of the great masterpieces of. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy. The book of columba first, i should indicate that the book of kells is also called the book of columba, which presupposes that there was a columba. It features the monogram of the greek form of christs name, ch. Tailten games celtic book of kells yuletide christmas.
After a detail from the chi rho page of the book of kells. It is the chi rho, a symbol still used in the roman catholic church, that symbolizes christs name as it is the first two letters of the word. Also in the book of deer, the book of durrow, the corpus irish gospel, ae 2 of magnentius. Said that the book of kells was taken by monks who fled from viking threat to ireland. The letter rho is snuggled underneath the arms of the chi. The date and place of origin of the book of kells have attracted a great deal of. It is the last in a sequence of three images, depicting christ enthroned, the crux gemina, and the exceptional chi rho image. One of the most celebrated moments in the book of kells is the chi rho page. The chirho pronounced keeroe is a christian symbol consisting of the intersection of the capital greek letters chi. Soerfm public domain and the whole of the book of kells was surely a product of much hard labor, dedication, and tedious transcription that was done by the monks. In this illumination the chi is the dominant form, an x with uneven arms, somewhat resembling a pair of curvaceous pliers. Along with the chi rho page from the book of kells throughout the medieval period most of the art works included great detail, had an earth tones, and some included the chi rho itself. Constantine, the ruler of the romain empire is the person who single handedly made this symbol what it is now, very important and beyond wellknown.
The most famous image associated with the book of kells is. Early bibles and gospels 2 the 12th century traveller and writer, gerald of wales, once examined a beautiful gospel book in kildare which he described as the work, not of men, but of angels. A labarum chirho symbol on a terracotta tomb plaque, byzantine or visigothic, c. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four gospels of the new testament together with various. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. The chirho decorating the sacred word october 14, 20. Chi rho, chrismon, monogram of christ, or labarum early. Chi rho pronounced kairoe is the greek abbreviation. The esoteric significance of the kells illuminations has often been remarked upon, but rarely explored in depth. For analysis and explanation of other important pictures from the renaissance, see. The chi rho page in the book of kells volume 36 suzanne lewis. Lets look at how the monkartists of the book of kells beautifully illuminated the pivotal moment in history when god took on human flesh and came to earth to dwell. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page.
According to the early church fathers, moths symbolise the resurrection due to their natural. Metropolitan museum of art terracotta tomb plaque, byzantine or visigothic, c. Book of kells presentation adventures in the green world. Robertson davies the lively antics of cats, prowling, hunting and quietly sitting among the lines of the book of kells hold no very obvious religious symbolism. I made this drawing in imitation of the great illuminated chi rho pages in 69th century gospel manuscripts from northumbria and ireland. This particular symbol is from the book of kells, made in an irish monastery. Analysis of monogram page chi rho one of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for. The most beautiful book in the world the book of kells. His comments have been traditionally associated with the book of kells, but not for any particularly good reason except that this is the most beautiful and complete early gospel book surviving from ireland. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic. Cats in the book of kells authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons. This page is one particular illuminated page from the book of kells. They evangelized much of scotland, and their history even contains the first recorded sighting of the loch ness monster.
The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the majority of the page. The chi rho iota xpi page of the hibernosaxon book of kells is astonishingly complex, filled with twisting lines and curling spirals similar to the intricate metalwork found with the sutton hoo ship, yet this page proclaims, now this. The book of kells also known as the book of columba is one of the great masterpieces of irish christian culture. Currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year. Marginalia are symbols in the background whose meaning are unknown. Matthew, following the book of generation, which gives the genealogy of jesus christ, there is a highly decorated which contains a large x, a smaller p, and a smaller i.
Dear readers, i am forwarding a little more information on the book of kells. Chi and rho are the first two letters of the word christ in greek. In 353 ad, near the end of his losing battle with constantius ii, the usurper magnentius. While the cross and crucifixion is never sidelined, the strong proclamation is of joy at the christ event, and indeed at all of creation. Strictly speaking, rather than the book of kells, named after a town in county meath, it should be called the book of iona, as its thought that it was monks on that remote scottish island who. Chi is written as an x while rho is roughly written as a p. Codicology the study of the physical structure of a book. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christs name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. New research is rewriting the history of the worlds most famous early medieval manuscript a lavishly illustrated 1,200yearold copy of the gospels known today as the book of kells. The book of kells might well be described as a song of joy at the incarnation, a celebration of the good news of the birth of christ. I am fortunate enough to live in a time and in a place when i can casually sign up for minicourses on things of tremendous worth, history, beauty, and meaning whenever they happen to come r. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin.
The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. Codex a book composed of folded sheets sewn along one edge. The page is rich in multilayered symbolism intended to engage its monastic audience with a range of eucharistic and christological themes. The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthews account of the nativity. The first 17 verses of the book of of matthew recounts the earthly ancestry of christ back to abraham, while verse 18 marks the point of the incarnation of christ in the book of matthew, the first of the gospels in the manuscript. Expanding on jeromes exegesis of the evangelists and their relationship with the four creatures, pope gregory the great 540604 related each symbol to an event in christs life. The most fascinating thing about the book of kells is that everything was done by hand with such precision and detail. Chi rho a monogram composed of the letter xp the greek chi and rho, the first two characters of christs name. These images are related by their shared themes of nativity, death, and resurrection. What this means is that the illustrations of a book, often a bible or the gospels, are decorated with gold or silver leaf in addition to vibrant. The rho stands in its shelter, with its loop turned into a spiral. The book of kells is one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts, and is an example of medieval art that blends pagan design with christian themes. The book of kells has a second chi rho abbreviation on folio 124 in the account of the crucifixion of christ, and in some manuscripts the chi rho occurs at the beginning of.
This miniature is the largest and most lavish extant chi rho monogram in any insular gospel books and is the culmination of a tradition that started with the book. The chirho decorating the sacred word spectatio divina. First, i should indicate that the book of kells is also called the book of columba, which presupposes that there was a columba columba means dove, and there was a st columba 7 december 521 9 june 597. The chi rho also appears in a different form as a monogram folio 344r in the famous illuminated manuscript, the book of kells produced by celtic monks about 800 ad. From that process, a limited edition of 1480 copies of the printed kells were made. Compare the cross page, from the lindisfarne gospels 10. Its a copy of the four gospels in latin with beautiful, intricate illuminations.
The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. As with so many of the other images, the page was created in the form of a coded text to be read by the educated and not a visual text for the illiterate. The chi rho page is considered the most famous page in medieval art and introduces matthews account of the nativity. Colour of green green for the vine for the leaves and the branches the tree of life colour of red red for the wounds that are deeper than i can know how deep the flow. With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone. Christian symbolism in the book of kells the medieval.
The chirho can represent either christ or christianity and is also known as a christogram. Lords prayer book of kells housed at trinity college, dublin. Such carelessness, taken together with the sumptuousness of the book, have led to the conclusion that it was designed for ceremonial use on special liturgical occasions such as easter rather than for daily services. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells elixir of.