Lindisfarne Gospels Cross Page Carpet Page

Produced in the british isles between 500 900 ce.

Lindisfarne gospels cross page carpet page.

Lindisfarne gospels st matthew cross carpet page f 26v british library matthew s cross carpet page exemplifies eadfrith s exuberance and genius. The lindisfarne gospels begins with a carpet page in the form of a cross and a major initial page introducing the letter of st. Lindisfarne island off the coast of northumberland in england. One bird situated in the upper left hand quadrant has blue and pink stripes in contrast to others that sport registers of feathers.

Here a cross is decorated with the animal interlace pattern characteristic of pagan cultures. Insular cross carpet pages were inspired by contemporary metalwork and oriental rugs. Made in italy. Similar pages can be found in coptic christian manuscripts and it is possible that this decorative tradition came to ireland with monks who came from or spent time in egypt.

Jerome and pope damasus i. A dense interplay of stacked birds teem underneath the crosses of the carpet page that opens john s gospel. Time of social upheaval and devastation invasions. In the lindisfarne gospels the carpet pages play a similar role preparing the reader for the the gospel message.

793 ce vikings pillaged the monastery but the monks were able to keep the lindisfarne gospels safe. A mesmerizing series of repetitive knots and spirals is dominated by a centrally located cross. The patterns in the lindisfarne gospels. This ornate page inscribed by northumbrian monks on the island of lindisfarne is a prime example of the overlap of christian and pagan imagery in northwestern europe.

Lindisfarne gospels cross carpet page. A mesmerizing series of repetitive knots and spirals is dominated by a centrally located cross. Matthew cross carpet page exemplify migration period patterns which are most like. The book includes five highly elaborate full page carpet pages so called because of their resemblance to carpets from the eastern mediterranean.

Each carpet page contains a different form of cross stressing the different church traditions and their ecumenical relationship. The lindisfarne gospels is a manuscript that contains the gospels of the four evangelists mark john luke and matthew.