The Bible In Paintings, #61: PAINTED BIBLES!!! – 1st ILLUMINATED INTERLUDE, THE BOOK OF KELLS

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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THE BOOK OF KELLS

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The Book of Kells is the world’s most famous illuminated book and is widely regarded as the most extravagantly beautiful of its kind. It contains the Four Gospels in Latin in its 680 calfskin-vellum pages, bound now in four volumes.

It was created by Irish monks over 1,200 years ago—despite being interrupted by Viking raids—and is named for the Abbey of Kells, which housed it for centuries. Currently, this Irish national treasure resides in and is displayed at Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland. Its Wikipedia page is quite instructive.

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Trinity College Library

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One of the four volumes of THE BOOK OF KELLS
Note the Irish Shamrock paperweight

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Facsimile edition

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“The Four Evangelists”
The Symbols of the Four Evangelists (clockwise from top left):
a Man (Matthew), a Lion (Mark), an Eagle (John) and an Ox (Luke)

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“Matthew the Apostle”

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“The Gospel of Matthew, Opening Chi-Rho Page”
Chi and Rho (written "Ch" and “P”) are the first two letters of "Christ"
in Greek. Remember, the English “P” is Greek’s “π”—easy as pi!

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ChiRho detail

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Small detail of the ChiRho monogram page's lower-left

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“The Incipit to the Gospel of Matthew”

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“Genealogy of Christ”

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“The Text of the Beatitudes”

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“Text from the Gospel of Matthew”

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“The Gospel of Mark, Opening Page”

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“ The Gospel of Luke, Opening Page”

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“Gospel of John”

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“Text from the Gospel of John”

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“John the Evangelist”

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“Christ Enthroned”

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“Madonna and Child”

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“The Temptation of Christ”

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“The Arrest of Christ”

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Typical detail. Almost all of the folios of the Book of Kells
contain small illuminations like this decorated initial.

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Some Illuminated Text

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

2nd
ILLUMINATED
INTERLUDE:
THE
LINDISFARNE
GOSPELS

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

"Book of Kells"

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:

BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 60 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles, to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Quality
The Bible is my focus, not the art. This is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to successfully illustrate some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

Pacing
The pace may seem glacial to those eager to see their favorite events. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence; if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic. But where there is no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

I’m just having fun—and I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 42 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[Hebrews 11:6]

Ping List for the series
"THE BIBLE IN PAINTINGS"

To receive an alert for each new posting
in this series, either reply here or FRmail me.

[kalee]

Please add me to the list. Thanks!

[Hebrews 11:6]

We’ll skip the double-secret initiation rituals in your case, kalee, but only because we all like you so much. You’re in!

[jacknhoo]

Truly amazing, the detail is so intriguing. I learn new things every time with these posts. Appreciate it.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Two more “illuminating” posts coming. If I were ever in Ireland, I’d certainly want a peek at The Book of Kells. In my opinion, tomorrow’s subject, The Lindisfarne Gospels, is just as entertaining.

[left that other site]

I have a framed copy of the “Chi-Rho Page” hanging over my bed. I got it at a Yard Sale for $2.

Seriously.

I am not making this up. I knew what it was the second I saw it and grabbed it. However, nobody else was interested in it as they were all huddled around the Baseball Cards and Action Figures.

[jacknhoo]

Found this link that explains the fabrication methods, location, etc. Amazing how much work and dedication went into their creation. Such a shame thieves stole the cover and possibly part of the Book Of John.

https://www.ancient.eu/Book_of_Kells/

[Hebrews 11:6]

Eureka! Great catch. It is a beaut. Begosh an' begorrah, ye olde Lindisfarne ChiRho cometh for a surety on the morrow, forsooth.

What prize winneth I for combining Greek, Irish and Olde English in one short paragraph?

[Texas_Guy]

That is why Bibles were secured. They were expensive to produce and people stole them.

[left that other site]

Thou Winnest Ye Olde Bubyie Prize!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Amazing how much work and dedication went into their creation.

Couldn't help thinking about the eye-strain and shoulder-and-neck tightness as they hunched over next to the open window. The "dedication" of the calves was significant, too.

Thanks for that link--I'll have a look.

Such a shame thieves stole the cover

Good story coming tomorrow, too, about Lindisfarrne's cover.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I’ll hang it over the bed.

[left that other site]

LOL.

[jacknhoo]

“Good story coming tomorrow, too, about Lindisfarrne’s cover.”

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Very much looking forward to it.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Might involve the Vikings, in case you’re a sensitive Scandinavian.

[sasportas]

About the page from the book of Kells about the four evangelists: it shows they must have great spiritual insight, likening the four living creatures around the throne to the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Reflecting a tradition that goes back to the time of the apostles?

The four around the throne are depicted worshiping Christ the Son of God, God manifest in flesh. Great spiritual insight, indeed.

Though their depiction of the living creature that is supposed to be a lion, doesn’t look like one...at least to my eyes.

[Hebrews 11:6]

You triggered this thought in me: while Jesus' "favorite" apostles apparently were Peter and the Boanerges Boys, the Sons of Thunder, judging by the Mount and the Garden, it wouldn't surprise me to discover "the Four Evangelists" receiving a special perpetual honor--along with, I expect now that you've focused me on it, every one of the forty or so Bible authors.

I, too, looked in vain for some resemblance to lions as we know them. But then, "we know them": where would a monk living in Ireland in 800 AD, with no photography nor internet nor local zoo, ever have seen even a picture of a lion, let alone the genuine article?

[sasportas]

I guess I didn’t make myself clear. What I meant about the four living creatures around the throne was they are symbolic. Not actually Matthew, Mark, luke, and John, but symbolic of the revelation of Jesus Christ by what is written in the four gospels.

Doesn’t Rev. 5 picture the slain Lamb in the “center” of the throne? Christ the savior of the world by the sacrifice of himself central to Christianity, in other words. Or it should be.

A heavenly scene definitely intended to be interpreted symbolically, as Christ isn’t literally a slain four legged creature, nor does he have literally have seven eyes or seven horns as Revelation pictures him.