![]() ![]() ![]() Painstaking attention to detail defines this art form after all, only the best artisans could create the beautiful figures and backgrounds in these books, and then use mixtures of gold leaf and glue to add illumination to the designs.Īs well, the designs found in Celtic illuminated manuscripts always had a spiritual focus in fact, the gold leaf was believed to “exalt” the drawings and borders, adding a magical or supernatural aura to the pictures, patterns, and letters. Today, there are a multitude of medieval illuminated manuscripts from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and many of them contain amazing examples of Celtic lettering, borders, and painting… The Art of Illumination… The addition of glowing gold (or sometimes silver) is really a defining characteristic of these illuminated manuscripts often, they were written on vellum parchment.īy the 16th century, the first printing presses made these traditional masterworks obsolete, although the wealthy still commissioned them from time to time. If you’re not familiar with these manuscripts and how they were made, you’ll enjoy learning about the care that went into these epic labours of love.Īfter all, each one was composed of beautiful text, written in the most careful and elegant hand, along with intricate borders, Celtic knot work symbols, and drawings of meaningful scenes that were embellished, or illuminated, with shining sections of precious gold leaf… Silver And Gold… In fact, the most shining examples of this unique art form are considered priceless artifacts in the British Isles. The beauty, symbolism and artistry of Celtic illuminated manuscripts makes them something to marvel at – that’s why the most spectacular examples of these ornate, medieval works of art (such as the Irish Book of Kells) are displayed in museums.
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